With Disney settingMarc Forsterto direct the studio’s live-actionChristopher Robinmovie, the studio has now found its leading man. Ewan McGregor has signed on to play the title character, who has long since grown up from his days in the 100 Acre Wood, and is now a businessman with a family of his own. The studio has also brought in writerAllison Schroeder, who is coming off an Oscar nomination for her work inHidden Figures, is coming aboard to work on the script.
The Hollywood Reporterbroke the news on this casting, with the actor set to play the grown-upChristopher Robinwho has “lost his sense of imagination,” since he is now solely focused on his work and being successful. While theWinnie the Poohcharacter isn’t mentioned in The Hollywood Reporter’s piece, previous reports revealed that Winnie The Pooh actually comes back to visit the adultChristopher Robin, since he needs help finding his friends, but this visit comes at the worst possible time forChristopher, since he is close to losing his wife and daughter because he’s too focused on his work.
The original script forDisney’s live-action moviewas written byAlex Ross Perry(Listen Up Philip), with Tom McCarthy (Spotlight) writing a later draft of the script. Now with Allison Schroeder taking over the writing duties, it remains to be seen how much of the original story will change, or if a new approach will be taken.Brigham Taylor(The Jungle Book) will produce for Disney, which hasn’t set a release date at this time. Then again, with the cast now beginning to be formed, perhaps the studio will set a release date soon.
AuthorA.A. Milnenamed theChristopher Robincharacter after his own son, Christopher Robin Milne, with the character appearing in his 1926 bookWinnie the Poohand the 1928 follow-upThe House at Pooh’s Corner, along with several poems. The character would then appear in the animated TV seriesThe New Adventures of Winnie the Poohand the 2011 animated filmWinnie the Pooh. The author is the subject of a new biopic himself, entitledGoodbye Christopher Robin, which starsDomhnall Gleesonas A.A. Milne, Margot Robbie as his wife and Will Tilston as Christopher Robin.
Ewen McGregorcan currently be seen in theaters in two vastly different movies, the Disney blockbusterBeauty and the Beast, where he voices the candelabra Lumierre, andTrainspotting 2, where he reprised his iconic character Renton. He also stars on FX’s hit anthology seriesFargo, playing the dual role of Minnesota twin brothers Emmit Stussy and Ray Stussy. He will next be seen inThe Land of SometimesandZoe, which are both in pre-production. Hopefully we’ll hear Robinsoon, now that the lead character has been cast.
