Winnie-the-Pooh is not the only
lovable talking bear to originate from the UK (more specifically, British
authors). Another iconic ursine character is Paddington Bear, a little cub from
“Darkest Peru” who is taken in by the human Brown Family after finding him in
London’s Paddington Station, where he gets his name. Created in 1958 by Michael
Bond, he has been adapted into TV and film, the latter starting in 2014 from
StudioCanal UK and starring Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington. It got a
sequel in 2017, and following announcements that a third film was being
considered, this week its development was finally confirmed.
Entertainment Weekly has it that StudioCanal has begun work for a “Paddington
3,” announcing the start of serious planning on Wednesday, February 18. "We
can confirm Studiocanal is working very hard on film 3 with the utmost craft
and care — as with film 1 and film 2," reported a representative from the
studio. Hugh Bonneville, who portrays Brown family patriarch Henry, noted in an
interview on BBC Radio 2 that there is forward momentum on the project, which
can be expected “somewhere on the horizon.”
While nothing much can be shared
in terms of details regarding “Paddington 3,” it can be assumed that the principal
cast from the first two movies will reprise their roles, from Bonneville to Ben
Whishaw as the titular bear and the rest of the Browns. What is almost certain
is that regular director Paul King might not be at the helm for part 3, busy as
he is with “Wonka” for Warner Bros. Pictures. He might still be part of the
production crew at least. Whishaw, more recently known as the current Q in the
Daniel Craig “James Bond” films, has expressed happiness at the chance to voice
the character, stating he loved the part.
While the third big-screen “Paddington”
is still shaping up, fans of the bear who loves marmalade (in sandwiches) as
much as Pooh loved “hunny” might consider his latest animated iteration, a British-French
co-production that can be seen internationally on Nickelodeon.
Image from London News Time
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