Jim Cummings Comments on Darkwing Duck Reboot: They’re Hiring Somebody Else

Nostalgia-driven reboots have become a hallmark of animation in recent years, with beloved characters from the past finding new life with modern audiences. Few revivals carry as much emotional significance for fans as the long-awaited return of ‘Darkwing Duck,’ the iconic Disney superhero series that first premiered in 1991.

Seth Rogen has been involved as an executive producer for the Disney+ revival for several years, with updates often coming from the original cast rather than official studio channels. Jim Cummings, who voiced the titular character throughout the original series, has been a key source of information regarding the project’s status.

Recently, Cummings shared news that fans might not have wanted to hear. During an interview with Collider at the premiere of ‘Coyote vs. Acme,’ he confirmed that he will not be reprising his role as Darkwing Duck in the upcoming reboot, despite having voiced the character for over three decades.

“I did a pilot for it several years ago, to see the viability of it coming back, and everybody went nuts,” Cummings stated, according to Collider. “And they are bringing it back, and they’re hiring somebody else to do Terry McGovern’s role of Launchpad, and they’re hiring somebody else to be Darkwing Duck. They’re hiring somebody else to be Darkwing Duck. I hope they get everything they deserve. Crazy, I don’t know what to tell you.”

These comments represent a notable change from Cummings’ earlier optimism about the project. Back in March, he had described the character’s return as “long overdue,” mentioning that production was already underway on preliminary material, saying at the time, “We’ve only recorded basically one offshoot so far.”

Cummings has voiced Darkwing Duck, also known as Drake Mallard, since the character’s inception, becoming one of Disney’s most recognizable voice actors. In addition to Darkwing, Cummings has also voiced iconic characters like Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and Pete, solidifying his status as one of the studio’s most prolific talents.

The character made a brief appearance during Disney’s 2017 ‘DuckTales’ reboot, where Cummings voiced Jim Starling, the fictional actor who originally portrayed Darkwing Duck within that show’s narrative. This storyline eventually led to Drake Mallard, voiced by Chris Diamantopoulos, taking on the role after Starling’s transformation into the villain Negaduck, providing a meta nod to the character’s legacy even without Cummings in the lead.

With the live-action revival reportedly moving forward under Rogen’s direction, it seems Disney is opting for a completely new voice cast instead of bringing back the actors most associated with the franchise’s original run. This decision is likely to spark conversations among longtime fans who grew up with Cummings’ portrayal defining the character.

No additional details have been released regarding who might take on the role of Darkwing Duck or when the series will officially debut on Disney+.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!