Paddington 4 Greenlit After Paddington in Peru Delights at the Box Office
Riding the marmalade-sweet success of Paddington in Peru, Paddington 4 is picking up serious steam, locking in major behind-the-scenes additions as development kicks into gear. The bear’s fourth outing just got bigger—and it’s moving fast.
If you thought the Paddington films were just going to wrap things up with the last marmalade-fuelled adventure in Peru, think again. Not only is Paddington 4 moving forward, but the creative team is getting a rather major shake-up behind the scenes. This is all happening off the back of the whopping success the previous films have enjoyed – both at the box office and with critics. No half-hearted sequels here.
Paddington 4: Proper Writers On Board
Right, here’s where it gets interesting. Variety’s tipped us off that Armando Iannucci – Emmy-winner, Oscar nominee and the man behind 'Veep' and 'The Thick of It' (which, if you’ve not seen, is practically a rite of passage in British telly) – has been brought in to co-write the screenplay. Iannucci’s not exactly known for soft and cuddly family fare, so you have to wonder what Paddington will get up to with him calling the shots on the script.
He’s not going it alone, either. Simon Blackwell, another Emmy-winning, Oscar-nodded writer – and a regular collaborator of Iannucci’s – is penning the script with him. I’d call that a serious comedy power duo. You should expect some sharp wit threaded through the next bear caper.
Director and Producer: Familiar Faces
On the directing front, Dougal Wilson is apparently in talks to come back after making his feature debut with 'Paddington in Peru'. He’s only just cut his teeth on the big screen proper, so handing him the reins again is a show of faith. Rosie Alison is returning as producer, sticking with Heyday Films, so not everything’s up in the air – there's some continuity among all the new faces.
Recap: Where Are We So Far?
- The Paddington franchise is carrying on after 'Paddington in Peru', which is the third film after 'Paddington' and 'Paddington 2'.
- All films are based on Michael Bond’s beloved children’s books. Not that you could miss that, given the sheer Britishness running through the entire lot.
- The franchise has been a hit, both in terms of money and with the critics – a rare double whammy for family sequels.
- This fourth film was formally confirmed back at CinemaCon earlier this year, with Anna Marsh (CEO of StudioCanal, and Chief Content Officer at Canal+) saying the franchise was staying in business and promising 'world-renowned comedy writers' would be coming in. Now we know who they are.
What’s Next?
So, Paddington 4 is happening – and it looks like it’ll have a different flavour, given the heavyweights now at the helm of the script. Still no detailed plot or official cast announcements, but expect more news to drop soon as things shift from paperwork to marmalade sandwiches.
As CinemaCon’s Anna Marsh said:
'World-renowned comedy writers are working on the film.' Now we know exactly who she meant.