Bambi: The Reckoning

Bambi: The Reckoning is an upcoming British independent horror film directed by Dan Allen, written by Rhys Warrington, and produced by Rhys Frake-Waterfield and Scott Jeffrey. It is the fourth installment in The Twisted Childhood Universe (TCU) and serves as a horror retelling of Felix Salten's Bambi, a Life in the Woods. The film stars Roxanne McKee and Tom Mulheron, with Nicola Wright, and Samira Mighty in supporting roles. It follows a mother and her son who become hunted by Bambi after his mother's death.

Bambi: The Reckoning is scheduled to be released in 2025.

Premise
After a mother and son get in a car wreck, they soon become hunted by Bambi, a mutated grief-stricken deer on a deadly rampage seeking revenge for the death of his mother.

Cast

 * Roxanne McKee as Xana
 * Tom Mulheron as Benji, Xana's son
 * Nicola Wright as Mary
 * Samira Mighty as Harriet

Development
In November 2022, a live-action horror film based on Bambi, a Life in the Woods by Felix Salten was announced as being in development with the title Bambi: The Reckoning. Dan Allen was named as director, with Rhys Frake-Waterfield serving as a producer. The project was stated to a be joint-venture production between ITN Studios and Jagged Edge Productions. Scott Jeffrey described the film as "an incredibly dark retelling of the 1928 story we all know and love. Finding inspiration from the design used in Netflix's The Ritual, Bambi will be a vicious killing machine that lurks in the wilderness." In February 2023, the film was additionally revealed to be set in the same continuity as Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023) and its sequel, being teased in the latter film.

Filming
Principal photography was originally slated to commence on 31 January 2023 in London, England, with Vince Knight serving as cinematographer, after working on Blood and Honey. Filming was later rescheduled to begin on 6 January 2024 in England, which Jeffrey confirmed via his social media. Filming officially wrapped on 26 January 2024.

Marketing
The first official trailer debuted exclusively in theaters during the limited release of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 in March 2024. The trailer received a wide release, debuting online on April 3, 2024.

Release
Bambi: The Reckoning is slated to be released in early 2025.