I have to admit I didn’t see this one coming. However, all signs are that it’s true. Disney has confirmed it is working on a live-action Winnie-the-Pooh movie. The movie will follow Christopher Robin as an adult, when he returns to A.A. Milne’s storybook creatures and the 100 Acre Wood.
Come to think of it, that sounds like it could work. Sort of a cross between “Finding Neverland” and “Alice in Wonderland”. Considering Alice took in over $1 billion at the box office in 2010, Disney probably has pretty high hopes. Indie writer/director Alex Ross Perry will be writing the screenplay for the film.
Other Disney animated features scheduled for a live-action treatment include “The Jungle Book,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Mulan,” and “Dumbo.”
Disney’s animated Pooh films include 1977’s The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, 2000’s Tigger Movie, 2003’s Piglet’s Big Movie, 2005’s Pooh’s Heffalump Movie, and 2011’s Winnie the Pooh. Which was your favorite?
The weird part is that the real Christopher Robin grew up to resent his father and the Pooh stories. That’s public record, which makes me wonder how much thought Disney gave the new storyline.
I hope this is the first more ‘adultish’ remake of announced live-action remakes. Something more in the vein of ‘Saving Mr Banks’. Beautiful, somber, thought-provoking for the adults, while entertaining the youth well enough with Pooh and friends. And i feel like this might be what we could get, especially with the ‘older’ Christopher Robin returning. Kind of reminds me of Robin William’s “Hook”, where the older Peter Pan had forgotten all the magic and returned to his roots, etc. Would love to see a half serious take on the story of Christopher rediscovering his childhood chums with laughs, some memories that aren’t all so great, and perhaps a bit of self-examination, all in the vein of Mr Banks.
Disney needs to be VERY careful with this property and it’s live action treatment. The live action Alice in Wonderland, (Alice visits as an adult) while high on style and whimsy, fell apart in terms of it’s plot with an ending that was more than disappointing. While the live treatment of Cinderella was visually stunning and a pleasure from beginning to end, wasn’t much more than a lovely confection. A live action Pooh with Christopher returning as an adult needs to be earnest, heartfelt, touching and weave in mature themes the way Toy Story 3 was able. I would expect to leave the theater with a full heart and a happy tear in my eye.
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