16 Apr – Following the last-minute release cancellation in Hong Kong two years ago, the blood-soaked rendition of "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2" film faces another ban, this time in Brunei. The latest sequel, "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2", has been playing in over 90 Malaysian cinemas nationwide since 10 April, though under the 18+ rating due to its terrifying scenes, as per the local Film Censorship Board (LPF).
However, recent report reveals that due to its extensive violent and gory content, the film failed to pass Brunei's local government censorship, resulting in its ban from screening. "The ban was issued just days before the film's scheduled release in local cinemas, approximately on the 8th," confirmed a spokesperson for the local distributor, Mega Films Distribution.
Since its first release, "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey" has remained a hot topic, tarnishing the cherished childhood memories of many. Earlier, its premiere in Hong Kong was cancelled due to political considerations, making the first instalment a subject of discussion even before its release. According to U.S. copyright law, intellectual property or works enter the public domain 95 years after their initial publication. Therefore, since Winnie the Pooh had its first official release in 1926, it entered the public domain starting in 2022. This allows the public to use the characters for secondary creation or share content from the stories without authorisation.