Ewan McGregor Reveals How 'Christopher Robin' Honors Winnie the Pooh's Legacy (Exclusive)

McGregor and Hayley Atwell talk introducing the Hundred Acre Woods gang to a new generation in this exclusive featurette.

"It really is a lovely, funny adventure. We'll come out the better for it, having seen it, I think."

That much Ewan McGregor promises of Christopher Robin in ET's exclusive featurette. McGregor plays the titular Christopher in the film, the grown-up version of Pooh's best pal. "Winnie the Pooh comes back to him at a difficult time in his life," McGregor explains. "He sort of speaks a lot of truth, Pooh."

The film, which opens in theaters Aug. 3, is from director Marc Forster (Finding Neverland) and co-stars Hayley Atwell as Christopher's wife, Evelyn, as well as one of the original voice of Winnie the Pooh, Jim Cummings. New additions such as Brad Garrett and Toby Jones round out the voice cast, as Eeyore and Owl, respectively.

Of returning A.A. Milne's beloved stuffed animals to the screen, Atwell gushes, "These are the characters that my generation, my parents' generation and now this generation are growing up with... This is a charming story of a man finding his home again and finding that inner child."

In addition to honoring a legacy like Cummings, Christopher Robin enlists the songwriting of Richard M. Sherman, who wrote music and lyrics for the very first Winnie the Pooh short film, 1966's Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. "Winnie the Pooh became a dear friend of mine when Walt gave us the assignment to write songs for the first Winnie the Pooh short film," Sherman says. "And here, so many years later, it is very special to be back in the Hundred Acre Woods."

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Watch the trailer for Christopher Robin:

Here is the movie's official synopsis:

"In the heartwarming live action adventure Disney’s CHRISTOPHER ROBIN, the young boy who shared countless adventures with his band of lovable stuffed animals in the Hundred Acre Wood is now grown up and living in London but he has lost his way. Now it is up to his childhood friends to venture into our world and help Christopher Robin rediscover the joys of family life, the value of friendship and to appreciate the simple pleasures in life once again."

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