Before Disney obtained the rights to your friends at Hundred Acre Wood, they existed only to a boy in Sussex. No, that’s not the mythology of the Pooh Cinematic Universe (please make that a real term), but the charming origins of Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, and Tigger, too.
The real Christopher Robin simply played with his stuffed animals, and his father, A. A. Milne, adapted their imagined adventures into two books that sparked a phenomenon. That’s the true story being portrayed in Goodbye Christopher Robin, and with some serious actors and an awards season release date, it seems as if Fox Searchlight is hoping the real life spin makes for prestige material.
But nipping at its heels is Disney’s own live-action take on the beloved characters, with an adult Christopher returning to Hundred Acre Wood. It’s another studio showdown to see who handles the material better, and they won’t resolve it through Poohsticks.
So get ready for a double dose of the honey-loving bear, with the Disney-less Goodbye Christopher Robin hitting theaters first. The trailer makes it out to be a mild film, true to the spirit of Milne’s creation and hewing close to what audiences love about Winnie the Pooh. Whether that’s enough for audiences or if they want that Disney shine remains to be seen.
Goodbye Christopher Robin is directed by Simon Curtis and stars Domhnall Gleeson, Margot Robbie, and Kelly Macdonald. It will be released in the U.K. on September 29th, 2017 and in the U.S. on October 13th, 2017. For international release dates, click here.
Do you think we need two live-action takes on Winnie the Pooh? Let us know in the comments!
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