Jim Cummings has spent decades bringing some of Disney's most beloved characters to life, but one of his most personal roles is moving on without him. The long-gestating Darkwing Duck revival — which has had Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's Point Grey Pictures attached for years — will recast the title character rather than bring Cummings back as Drake Mallard.
Cummings Confirms the Recast
The news came straight from Cummings himself. Speaking to Collider at the Coyote vs. Acme premiere, he revealed that he had recorded a pilot "several years ago" that received an enthusiastic response — only to later learn the production was moving on without him. Original Launchpad McQuack voice actor Terry McGovern is also being replaced.
"They're hiring somebody else to be Darkwing Duck." — Jim Cummings
No replacement has been announced, and Disney has not publicly explained the casting change or formally detailed the revival's current cast, release date, or platform.
Cummings Had Spoken About Returning as Recently as 2026
What makes the news particularly striking is how recently Cummings was discussing the project as though his involvement was a given. At San Diego Comic-Con in 2025, he described the new story as a continuation of the original 1991 series — not a full reboot — featuring an older Darkwing and a grown-up Gosalyn. He compared the premise to an older Batman returning to action after years away.
At the 2026 Saturn Awards, he told Screen Rant that "we've only recorded basically one offshoot so far" and again discussed Gosalyn's age. That timeline suggests the recasting was a decision made later in development, though neither Disney nor Point Grey has clarified who made the call.
A Complicated Moment in Cummings' Disney Relationship
The recast arrives at a sensitive time. Earlier this month, Cummings publicly highlighted his continued exclusion from the Disney Legends program, posting: "40+ years. 1500+ characters. The voice of generations. No comment." The response was divided — some fans rallied behind his frustration, while others resurfaced allegations of sexual and emotional abuse made by his ex-wife during a 2019 custody dispute. Cummings denied those allegations as false and baseless.
It's worth noting that Disney has never stated those allegations affected its relationship with Cummings, his Disney Legends status, or the Darkwing Duck revival. Drawing a direct line between them and the recasting would be speculation.
Four Decades of Disney Magic
Cummings' Disney career stretches back to 1985. Over the years he became the voice of Winnie the Pooh, Darkwing Duck, Pete, Bonkers, Monterey Jack, and Fat Cat. His film credits include Ed in The Lion King, Nessus in Hercules, and Ray in The Princess and the Frog. He also voiced Star Wars pirate Hondo Ohnaka and famously performed portions of Scar's "Be Prepared" in The Lion King, seamlessly matching Jeremy Irons in the finished song.
His relationship with Disney hasn't ended entirely. While he was recast as Winnie the Pooh for Playdate with Winnie the Pooh, he continued voicing Pete in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ through 2026, recently returned as the Cheshire Cat for LEGO Disney Princess: Magical Mayhem, and voiced Darkwing again for Chibiverse in 2025. This is less a clean break with Disney than a very specific recasting of one of his most personal roles.
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