Jim Cummings shares his thoughts onWinnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey. Cummings is one of the most prolific Pooh Bear actors, who first voiced the character in the 1983 short filmWinnie-the-Pooh and a Day for Eeyore. He then went on to voice Pooh in every episode ofThe New Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh.
As forBlood and Honey, the movie is a two-film mascot horror series directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield. It takes the lovable characters fromWinnie-the-Poohand turns them into bloodthirsty killers as they go on a hunt for new food.The firstWinnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honeymovie was released in 2023,and the second came out one year later in 2024.
Speaking withThe Direct,Jim Cummings reflected onBlood and Honey.The actor said simply that he doesn’t “really have an opinion of it” because he has not seen the full film. He said that it is"kind of like the art movement out there" and does not “give it much credit.” Check out the full quote from Cummings below:
The Direct:In recent years, some new audiences are discovering Winnie the Pooh through the very gory and violent Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, [the] B horror movies that take these characters and introduce them in new ways. So my question is to you, what do you think about this beloved character being brought to life in such a mature manner for different interpretations?
Jim Cummings:It’s… I don’t really have an opinion of it. I saw about 10 seconds of it. And I think somebody always enjoys tearing down and stepping on somebody else’s dreams and something that they love. And there’s a… You know, it’s kind of like the art movement out there. You’ve seen certain disgusting displays of things that people are calling art. And, I don’t know, you know… I don’t give it much credence. I don’t give it much credit. It’s easier to throw rocks than it is to carve out the “pietà.”
What Jim Cummings' Comments Mean For Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood And Honey
Like it or not,theWinnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honeymovies gained a significant following.The first movie turned a $100,000 budget into a $7.7 million gross.Blood and Honey 2upped the stakes with a $1 million budget, and still profited, making $7.5 million.
Given this reach, the movies are speaking to a new audience, the bulk of which was not even alive during Cummings' prime Winnie era. In the actor’s words, this is ruining “something that [people] love.” But in truth,Blood and Honeymay just be for a different audience.
While his language choice is intense, Cummings is not wrong thatBlood and Honeyis part of a larger movement.Mascot horror films have become increasingly popularover the last several years, reinventing classic stories with a horror lens. This was done most recently withBambi: The Reckoning.
Our Take On Cummings' Blood And Honey Thoughts
It is interesting to hear Cummings be so seemingly opposed to a reinterpretation of theWinnie-the-Poohcharacters, because that has not universally been his stance. For instance,the actor has provided some of the classic voices to theKingdom Heartsvideo game franchise.This series also takes beloved characters and puts them in a new medium.
That said, there are still major differences betweenKingdom HeartsandBlood and Honey. The former is far more kid-friendly, better honoring the tone ofWinnie-the-Pooh. Cummings is seemingly more opposed to the bloody violence ofWinnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honeymore than anything else, calling it “disgusting.”
