The 1990s are having a major moment, and Disney is diving deep into its vault of beloved animated classics. Among the projects stirring up excitement is the long-rumored Darkwing Duck reboot. But now, the original voice of the feathered crimefighter, Jim Cummings, has dropped a bombshell that might leave fans feeling a bit deflated.
Speaking on the red carpet at the premiere of Coyote vs. Acme, Cummings shared an exclusive update with our team. The beloved actor, who brought Drake Mallard to life in the original series, revealed that he won't be returning to voice the character in the new iteration. Instead, Disney is bringing in fresh voices for both Darkwing and his trusty sidekick, Launchpad McQuack.
“I did a pilot for it several years ago, to see the viability of it coming back, and everybody went nuts. 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. I hope they get... everything they deserve. Crazy, I don't know what to tell you,” Cummings said, his tone a mix of resignation and bemusement.
For those who grew up in the early '90s, Darkwing Duck was a staple of after-school cartoons. The show, which debuted in syndication in 1991, followed the adventures of Drake Mallard, a mild-mannered citizen of St. Canard who transforms into the caped crusader Darkwing Duck by night. A clever parody of pulp heroes like The Shadow, Darkwing relied on his wits, an arsenal of gadgets, and his loyal sidekick Launchpad McQuack, a character originally from DuckTales. The series ran for three seasons and 91 episodes, cementing its place in animation history.
The character made a triumphant return in the 2017 DuckTales reboot, where Cummings voiced Jim Starling, the actor who originally played Darkwing in the in-universe TV show. In a meta twist, Starling went mad and became the villain Negaduck, while a new actor, Drake Mallard (voiced by Chris Diamantopoulos), took over the hero role. That storyline seemed to set the stage for a full-fledged Darkwing Duck revival.
Disney first announced a reboot in 2020, with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg attached as producers. However, details have been scarce since then, and Cummings' recent comments suggest the project is moving forward—just without him in the lead. While he didn't rule out returning in some capacity, perhaps as Negaduck, fans will have to wait and see.
In the meantime, Cummings continues to lend his voice to another iconic character: the Tasmanian Devil, a role he's played since 1991. You can hear him in Coyote vs. Acme, which hits theaters this weekend. The film follows Wile E. Coyote as he finally takes Acme Corporation to court over their faulty products, with Will Forte and John Cena co-starring.
As the Darkwing Duck reboot takes shape, fans are left wondering who will step into the purple fedora. Will the new voice capture the same charm and wit that Cummings brought to the role? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
