‘Christopher Robin’ Star Ewan McGregor Feels the Force of Legacy and the Child Within [EUR EXCLUSIVE]

Marc Foster, Hayley Atwell and Ewan McGregor attend the European Premiere of Disney’s ‘Christopher Robin’ at BFI Southbank on August 4, 2018, in London, England.
(Source: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Europe)

*Although Ewan McGregor is best known for swinging a lightsaber as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the “Star Wars” films and edgy fare like “Trainspotting”, he found the lead in the boy-who-has-unfortunately-grown-up tale “Christopher Robin” too good to pass up.

One of the things McGregor found irresistible was the opportunity to be in a film with a Pooh voiced by Jim Cummings, who has voiced the big-hearted bear since the mid-‘80s.

“I knew Pook from the books and then the cartoons,” said McGregor in a roundtable with EURweb. “I didn’t know I would have an association with that Pooh, and then when they told me that Jim would be the voice of Pooh, I realized I would be dealing with a Pooh I knew very well.”

Of course, a tale about the world through the eyes of child-like characters wouldn’t be complete without new actors, as well.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Review: ‘Christopher Robin’ – An Artsy, Innocent, Fun Film for the Kid in All Of Us

“Marc (Forster, the director of “Christopher Robin”) did a lovely thing where he cast a group of young actors, mostly kids out of drama school, to play most of the creatures,” said McGregor. “So you had Pooh, but you also had an Eeyore and all the rest and they were all brilliant, great actors. They were all enthusiastic and keen.”

McGregor said what also drew him to “Robin” instead of a rumored Obi-Wan Kenobi movie and all the other offers he gets for projects was the script and the ability to work with director Marc Forster again. The two had previously teamed up for the 2005 psychological thriller “Stay”.

“I liked working with Marc very much,” said McGregor. “We kept bumping into each other and staying in touch and then he approached me (with “Christopher Robin”)…and we talked about it.”

“I love the way he envisioned it and imagined it,” said McGregor. “It was sort of wonderful (and) as you see, it’s not quite what you imagine from a Disney recreation, you know what I mean? Thre’s something really beautiful and artful about it.”

“The script really moved me”, he concluded. “I found it really lovely and I believed in it. Even if there had never been a Winnie the Pooh before, I would still be interested in making this film, because it’s about something very nice and interesting and I love the characters.”

McGregor said that Pooh’s Zen-like philosophy of “doing nothing” reminded him of his own simple childhood.

“I came from a very small town in Scotland and it’s a town that’s built on a hillside and most of it is this place called The Knock and as children, we had the luxury of being independent at a really young age,” he said. “It wasn’t far away and it was safe. We’d go for walks I the woods and that’s what Pooh does. He wakes up and has some honey and goes for a walk in the woods..”

(L-R) Producer Kristin Burr, actor Jim Cummings, executive producer Renee Wolfe, actor Brad Garrett, director Marc Forster, actors Ewan McGregor, Bronte Carmichael, Hayley Atwell, songwriter Richard M. Sherman and producer Brigham Taylor attend the world premiere of Disney’s ‘Christopher Robin’ at the Main Theater on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, CA on July 30, 2018.
(Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images North America

McGregor said the scene where he reunites with Pooh perfectly illustrates what the character is all about.

“In that scene, when I played it, I thought it was beautiful,” he said. “(Pooh) is someone who loves you and loves you unconditionally and you can see that you’ve hurt them, but they still love you anyway.”

As for those who feel the tale of a grown-up Christopher Robin – with a wife Evelyn played by Hayley Atwell and a daughter Madeline, played by Bronte Carmichael – may not connect with kids, McGregor vehemently disagrees.

“I think they’ll really associate with the little girl (Madeline)”, said McGregor. “I think for very young kids, seeing creatures alive will be exciting! Of course, (some of adult Robin’s) struggles may be a bit above their heads, but the film starts with the creatures…and then we come back!”

“I look at films that I loved as a child and I see all this stuff that I had no idea what was going on..and now I’m like, ‘I see’”.

“But I associated with the movies the way a child does and it was all very satisfying.”

YouTube video

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

TikTok banned in US - via Grok AI
American Eagle with Letter from Unity - via Grok AI
Ruby Freeman - Rudy Giuliani - Shaye Moss
Charlotte (Julia Garner), Blake (Christopher Abbott) and Ginger (Matilda Firth) in Wolf Man - via Universal Studios
Luther Vandross (Mike Blake-Reuters via CNN Newsource)
Nelly performing for Trump - via Grok AI
Jazmyn Summers
Barack and Michelle Obama - via Grok
Love After Lockup: Crime Story
Teacher accused of sexually assaulting young student, having child together
Cooking With Kya
Read More
Ryan Levert - via Instagram
Read More
Otis Williams (Stefan Brending via Creative Commons)
Read More
Aaron Pierre - screenshot
Read More
George W. Bush - Donald Trump (Getty)
Read More
Denzel Washington getting baptized
Read More
Jimmy Butler & Kaitlin Nowak - screenshot
Read More
Shamsud Din Jabbar - YouTube screenshot
Read More
WICKED: PART 1
Read More
New Orleans New Years Eve Terror Attack
Read More

POPULAR

TikTok banned in US - via Grok AI
TikTok Could Go Dark on Sunday as Deadline Approaches Amid Uncertainty Over U.S. Ban | VIDEO
American Eagle with Letter from Unity - via Grok AI
A Letter from Unity - An Anonymous Message Encourages Americans to Reconnect Amidst Division | VIDEO
Ruby Freeman - Rudy Giuliani - Shaye Moss
In a Surprising Turn, Giuliani Avoids Financial Ruin - Ends Legal Battle with Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss
Charlotte (Julia Garner), Blake (Christopher Abbott) and Ginger (Matilda Firth) in Wolf Man - via Universal Studios
'Wolf Man' is a Howling Hoot - A Review by Marie Moore | VIDEO
Luther Vandross (Mike Blake-Reuters via CNN Newsource)
OWN to Premiere Luther Vandross Documentary 'Never Too Much' on Feb. 7
Nelly performing for Trump - via Grok AI
As the Temperature Drops, Can Nelly Brings the Heat? He's Set to Perform at Trump's Inauguration Celebrations + Reactions
Jazmyn Summers
EURweb.com Correspondent Jazmyn Summers Lands New Show on Sirius XM: Jazmyn in the Mornin’
Barack and Michelle Obama - via Grok
Barack Obama Celebrates Michelle's 61st Birthday Amid Political Absences and Divorce Rumors
Love After Lockup: Crime Story
We TV Unveils Trailer for New Limited Series 'Love After Lockup: Crime Story'
1 2 3 8,507