Marc Foster to Direct Winnie the Pooh-Inspired ‘Christopher Robin’ Movie for Disney

Disney’s ‘live-action remake’ initiative has recently yielded successes in the form of The Jungle Book and Pete’s Dragon, and as was made clear recently, its not stopping now. One of the many films now in development – one of a few that aren’t really ‘remakes’ – has taken a large step forward in its progress by way of filling the director’s chair.

Deadline recently broke the news that Marc Foster, best known for films like Finding Neverland, Quantum of Solace, and World War Z, has been tapped to direct the studio’s live-action adaptation of its Winnie the Pooh franchise.

The film, now titled Christopher Robin, will focus on the titular character as an adult businessman prioritizing his work life over his wife and daughter. In order to rediscover his inner child and salvage his home life, he’ll have to revisit his childhood adventures in the Hundred Acre Woods as he tries to help Pooh find his friends.

Produced by The Jungle Book‘s Brigham Taylor and scripted by Alex Ross Perry (Listen Up Phillip, Queen of Earth), the film won’t necessarily be a Winnie the Pooh movie, but it will utilize the iconic characters from the original stories and poems that served as inspiration for Disney’s animated short films, theatrical features, and TV shows.

In spite of Marc’s track record for eclectic projects (everything from indies to big-budget tent poles), Christopher Robin will be familiar territory for him in terms of tone, as the film will lean towards elements of magical realism in service of a heartwarming and emotional story (similar to Finding Neverland).

On the sliding scale of Disney’s live-action remakes, Christopher Robin falls closer to the ‘revisionist’ angle that has defined such films as Maleficent, Pete’s Dragon, and upcoming films like Dumbo and Rose Red. Whether or not the film will have as much success (or controversy) as those films won’t be known (or at least guessed about) until cameras start rolling.

What do you think? Are you excited about ‘Christopher Robin’, based on these new developments?

Edited by: Hannah Wilkes