Overview
- Variety reported Tuesday that a fourth Paddington film is in development and that Armando Iannucci and Simon Blackwell have been hired to write the screenplay.
- The director of the third film, Dougal Wilson, is reported to be in negotiations to return but producers have not confirmed his involvement.
- Producers have kept plot details secret, though coverage notes the new film could build on threads from Paddington in Peru such as visiting Peruvian bears and Clarissa’s North Pole subplot.
- Coverage says the project is being discussed with a potential 2028 release to coincide with Paddington’s 70th anniversary and the three prior films have grossed over $800 million worldwide.
- Iannucci and Blackwell bring award-winning satire and TV comedy experience, which could shift the franchise’s tone and affect casting, marketing and audience expectations as production moves forward.