Exclusive Interview with Ewan McGregor in Disney’s Christopher Robin #ChristopherRobinEvent
Myself, along with 24 other talented bloggers, recently returned from an amazing trip to L.A. where we had been invited to attend the Christoper Robin Premiere and Red Carpet event. It was truly an incredible, once in a lifetime experience that one could only dream of. It is not often you have the chance to be in the same room with those you really enjoyed watching in favorite past time movies, like Ewan McGregor, as Obi Wan Kenobe from the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999–2005). We all had the opportunity to sit down with Ewan McGregor asking him questions one on one about his role in the upcoming Disney movie, Christopher Robin. The interview took place at Montage Resort in Beverly Hills. This beautiful film plays everywhere in theaters August 3rd and one that every family should see!
Group Photo: 25 Bloggers with Ewan McGregor. Photo credit: Louise Manning Bishop of Momstart.com
Why Ewan McGregor is the perfect role for Christopher Robin:
Meeting him for the very first time, I instantly knew that he was the perfect person to play the role of Christopher Robin. As soon as Ewan McGregor entered the room, his excitement to spend time with us and share his love for this film was electric. Not only was he extremely kind and generous with his time, he was very funny too! It was simply amazing to get to speak with an actor that truly takes an active love and interest in his part of the movie.
Photo credit: Louise Manning Bishop of Momstart.com
Disney’s Christopher Robin is all about love, finding and remembering old friendships and digging deep to allow those emotions to resurface. After sitting and interviewing Ewan McGregor, it was instantly evident that family, friends and loving life were all aspects that he took great pride in. For Ewan, playing Christopher Robin is a natural fit. This role allowed him to reflect some on his own childhood memories while also being able to treasure the current bond and love that he shares with his children as well. Read our exclusive interview with Ewan McGregor.
Ewan McGregor’s connection to Christopher Robin:
No one really knows about Christopher Robin as an adult, but when I read the script I felt like I knew him and felt an instant connection. I felt like it was the right character for me to play.
Photo credit: Louise Manning Bishop of Momstart.com
What inspired Ewan McGregor to play the role of Christopher Robin:
What inspired me is how the director, Marc Forster, described how this movie would be an important film for people to watch, plus the script is very lovely. I don’t remember any particular Pooh stories growing up, but he is so well known and loved and I read these stories to my children today. Just hearing Winnie the Pooh’s voice is when I knew how familiar I was with him.
Winnie the Pooh in Disney’s live-action adventure CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Photo Credit @Walt Disney Studios
Aside from Pooh, Ewan McGregor’s favorite Hundred Acre Wood character:
I really love all of the characters, but Pooh is the one I spent the most time with on set. He is like my sidekick and I learned alot from him because he is very wise. I also like Eeyore because he is funny and makes you feel so happy, even when he is gloom. Also, I really love Kanga, she is really one of the only female and maternal characters of the bunch. She has a very calming voice.
Piglet, Pooh, Rabbit, Roo, Kanga, Tigger and Eeyore in Disney’s live-action adventure CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Photo Credit: @Walt Disney Studios
Speaking of the characters, it was pretty fascinating to hear from Ewan McGregor what it was like acting with stuffed animals in the film. When filming, they started out with stuffed animals, then transitioned into gray canvas like figures later on.
Read how Ewan McGregor described this transition and how it played out:
Director, Marc Forster, did a brilliant thing. He had a group of young actors to play one of the characters. Some had very little experience or were just out of Drama school. They were young and enthusiastic. They were not actually in the movie, they would just read the lines from the characters as we were playing out the scenes. We had stuffed animal versions, or teddy bears, beautifully made, just like the exact creatures in the movie. They were not puppets and were not animated. The actors would hold the creatures and move them around a little bit. We would play the scenes with the stuffies a few times, and got a real sense of how the movie would be played out. Eventually when they replaced the teddy bears with the gray canvas, a version of the stuffies. We would do the scenes just with these gray canvas, and eventually no canvas or stuffies were used at all…. I don’t think it would have felt so realistic, had we not started out with real stuffies. Once they removed the real stuffies we felt more comfortable with the transition.
Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) and his longtime friend Winnie the Pooh in Disney’s CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Photo Credit: @Walt Disney Studios
The message that everyone may take away from this movie:
Although everyone will review the movie in a different way, Ewan explains that there is an underlining message about connection, being available to each other, and just being present. As a mother myself, this message and the movie really resonates with me the most. Being more present and available for my children is so important. Often times we let the day to day obligations take over and before we know it, we spend less and less time with who loves us the most.
Photo credit: Louise Manning Bishop of Momstart.com
Why Ewan will always remember playing the role in the movie Christopher Robin:
I feel this is an important film for me for many reasons.Not only is the atmosphere on the set really lovely, Marc is a beautiful collaborating director. He really loves to hear everyone’s ideas and allows us to feel. You feel like you have a lot of input and Marc listens. The first week of shooting the scene with Winnie the Pooh in Hundred Acre Wood, Marc was really enthusiastic with the role I was playing as Christopher Robin and felt instantly that my role was working the way it was intended.
Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) and his longtime friend Winnie the Pooh in Disney’s live-action adventure CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Photo Credit: @Walt Disney Studios
Another thing that Ewan will always remember is the gentle and beautiful settings in which the movie is filmed. Part of the movie was filmed in beautiful places such as Ashdown Forest as well as Windsor Great Park.
Ewan McGregor’s favorite scene in the movie and favorite line:
I really liked playing the scene when I had to apologize to Pooh when Christopher Robin lost his temper. My favorite line was saying, ‘Silly ole’ Bear!’
Christopher Robin. (Ewan McGregor) with his longtime friend Winnie the Pooh in Disney’s live-action adventure CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Photo Credit: @Walt Disney Studios
My final thoughts:
When Director Marc Forster cast Ewan for this role, I truly feel he picked the perfect person to play Christopher Robin.
Photo credit: Louise Manning Bishop of Momstart.com
Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken during the interview with Ewan McGregor should be properly credited to Louise Manning Bishop of Momstart.com
A special thank you to Disney for inviting me to attend my very first red carpet event for the Christopher Robin Premiere. Myself, along with 24 other bloggers were invited by Walt Disney Studios on an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles for the Christopher Robin event. All opinions are my own.
Extended Sneak Peek of Christopher Robin Trailer:
Christopher Robin Opens August 3, 2018
You May Also Like To Read:
Winnie the Pooh Quotes for Everyone of Any Age – Winnie the Pooh Wisdom
While the day of reading Winnie the Pooh may be behind us as adults, that doesn’t mean that some of our favorite Winnie the Pooh quotes didn’t stick with us throughout our lives! No matter the feelings, or emotions, Winnie the Pooh has tidbits of wisdom and insight to share!
An Incredible Experience Attending My First Red Carpet For Christopher Robin
The Christopher Robin red carpet premiere in LA was held Monday night, July 30, at Walt Disney Studios Lot in Burbank, California, and I was there to experience it all. I’m so excited to share every detail with you!
Andrew Bennett says
I found that Ewan was happy to see us, who wouldn’t be with a reception like we give our actors, right!