At some point over the last decade or so, the entertainment industry phased out its eponymous trailer narrator. Everyone who spent their weekends in the cinema during the 90s and 00s recalls the previews before the main attraction. They contained teases for upcoming titles—narrated by a very ominous voice that added gravitas to whatever was coming up in the next few months. No one could truly pinpoint an actor to give them credit, until now.
On an episode of Joe Vulpis' podcast, the host interviewed longtime actor Jim Cummings. Best known as the voice behind Winnie the Pooh, Cummings delved into some of his old roles. And, during their conversation, he confirmed his role as the narrator attached to those clips.
What's strange is Hollywood did away with a tried and true method of teasing movies. Nothing Cummings has done has tainted his reputation, nor has he engaged in anything unreputable, raising questions. He even mentions enjoying the work, so it wasn't for a lack of trying on the actor's behalf.
For those who might be clueless about what's getting referenced here, if you ever listened to the beginning of a trailer, and it starts with "Coming to a theater near you..." it was more than likely Cummings narrating the clip. His list of credits goes back as far as the 1980s. Cummings took over the role of Winnie the Pooh in 1988, but his first trailer cover happened in 1990.
Cummings' tenure started with the trailer for That's Adequate (1990), a mockumentary set in a fictional version of Hollywood. It delved mostly into comedy and quasi-meta sketches. The actor moved on to more serious endeavors, lending his voice to blockbuster films, including True Romance, Mortal Kombat, Sling Blade, and Thinner. Cummings' list of accolades is a mile long, although those are the most recognizable.
Again, such a staple of the entertainment industry shouldn't have disappeared so suddenly—especially not without cause. Of course, the answer may lie in perception.
After a long enough time, Cummings' voice may have lost its appeal to screening groups. As fans, we can enjoy the nostalgia behind those old-timey trailers. But for people tasked with rating them, the monotony of hearing Cummings' voice on repeat might be too much. Listening to anyone speak for a long enough time can be irritating. Picture having to give honest feedback while fighting back annoyance. It sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Mind you, most people can listen to the voice of Winnie the Pooh all day long, never growing tired. Children will attest to such a fact. There's something genuinely uplifting about Cummings when he speaks. Whether he's playing the docile Pooh or he's full of energy, bouncing off the walls like Tigger, audiences flock to him like moths to a flame.
With that said, it's difficult to picture anyone growing tired of Cummings narrating movie trailers. Who knows why Hollywood let him go from the narrating game, but now's the time to get him back in.