Disney Reportedly Drops Veteran Voice Actor Jim Cummings From Major Role

One of Disney’s longest-serving voice actors appears to have lost one of the roles most closely associated with his career.

Jim Cummings has worked with Disney since the 1980s, voicing characters across animation, television, film, video games, and theme park projects. His credits include Winnie the Pooh, Pete, Bonkers, Hondo Ohnaka, and Ray from The Princess and the Frog.

He also became the defining voice of Darkwing Duck.

Cummings first played Drake Mallard in Disney’s original Darkwing Duck series, which premiered in 1991. More than three decades later, he was still voicing the character in newer projects, including Chibiverse in 2025.

Now, however, Cummings says Disney’s next major Darkwing Duck project will proceed without him.

Jim Cummings Says Darkwing Duck Is Being Recast

Speaking to Collider at the premiere of Coyote vs. Acme, Cummings revealed that he had previously recorded material for the long-in-development Darkwing Duck revival.

According to Cummings, he recorded a pilot “several years ago.”

Despite apparently receiving a positive response at the time, Cummings said he has since learned that another performer will voice Drake Mallard.

“They’re hiring somebody else to be Darkwing Duck,” Cummings said.

Cummings also said Terry McGovern, who originally voiced Launchpad McQuack, is being replaced.

Disney has not announced either replacement, and many basic details about the project remain unknown.

The Darkwing Duck revival was first reported years ago, with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s Point Grey Pictures attached. Since then, public updates have been limited, leaving its exact production status unclear for long stretches.

Cummings, however, continued discussing the project publicly.

During San Diego Comic-Con in 2025, he described a story featuring an older Darkwing Duck and an adult Gosalyn Mallard.

Rather than starting from scratch, his description suggested that the series would continue the lives of characters introduced in the original show. Cummings compared the concept to an older Batman returning to action after spending years away.

He was still discussing his involvement the following year.

At the 2026 Saturn Awards, Cummings told ScreenRant that “we’ve only recorded basically one offshoot so far” while speaking about plans for an older Gosalyn.

Disney and Point Grey have not explained when the casting direction changed.

The companies have also not publicly confirmed whether other elements Cummings previously discussed remain part of the current version of the project.

Disney Has Already Recast Another Major Jim Cummings Character

Darkwing Duck is not the first famous Cummings role Disney has handed to another performer.

Cummings has voiced Winnie the Pooh for decades, becoming one of the character’s most familiar performers following original voice actor Sterling Holloway.

However, Disney used a different actor for its preschool series Playdate with Winnie the Pooh.

That change did not end Cummings’ wider relationship with Disney.

He continued voicing Pete in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ through 2026 and recently performed as the Cheshire Cat in LEGO Disney Princess: Magical Mayhem.

His Disney résumé stretches far beyond those characters.

Cummings voiced Ed in The Lion King, Nessus in Hercules, Monterey Jack and Fat Cat in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, and Bonkers D. Bobcat.

He also voices Hondo Ohnaka in the Star Wars franchise, including the Audio-Animatronic character featured in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Cummings even performed portions of Scar’s “Be Prepared” in The Lion King, stepping in for Jeremy Irons during parts of the song.

His recent relationship with Disney has nevertheless attracted additional attention.

Earlier in August, Cummings publicly addressed the fact that he has never been named a Disney Legend despite his lengthy history with the company.

“40+ years. 1500+ characters. The voice of generations. No comment.”

Some fans supported his comments, 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.

Disney has never stated that those allegations are connected to Cummings’ casting, his Disney Legends status, or its broader relationship with the actor.