Paddington 3 is just a few months away, and we can't wait to be reunited with the titular bear. Finally, over two years on from StudioCanal announcing that it was in development, the third instalment, named Paddington in Peru, has confirmed when it'll sail into cinemas: 8 November, 2024.
Dougal Wilson, best known for helming several John Lewis Christmas adverts, is set to direct this time around, what with filmmaker Paul King having stepped away from the behind the camera.
"After ten years of working on the Paddington movies, I feel absurdly protective of the little bear, and I'm delighted that Dougal will be there to hold his paw as he embarks on his third big screen adventure," King, who worked on the story, said at the time of the announcement. "Dougal's work is never less than astounding: funny, beautiful, heartfelt, imaginative, and totally original. Aunt Lucy once asked us to 'Please Look After This Bear.' I know Dougal will do so admirably."
There's also been some shake-ups cast-wise, too, which we go into (and more) below. So if you're keen to find out everything we know so far about the family-friendly sequel, you'd better wipe away the marmalade from your fingers, and get scrolling...
Paddington 3 filming and release date
Paddington, the first movie, kicked off shooting in September 2013 before releasing in November 2014, while Paddington 2 began rolling cameras on October 2016 ahead of its November 2017 release.
Paddington 3 started filming in July 2023 in both London and Peru, which is in keeping with the threequel's official title 'Paddington in Peru', and wrapped in October that same year. It'll come out in UK cinemas on 8 November, 2024. Unfortunately, fans of the titular bear across the pond will have to wait a little longer, as it'll release in the US and Canada on 17 January, 2025.
Paddington 3 cast
Paddington 3 will feature a mix of new and familiar faces. Ben Whishaw will return, reprising the role of Paddington himself. Other notable cast members making comebacks include Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, and Imelda Staunton, who voices Paddington's Aunt Lucy, who lives in Peru.
Newbies to the franchise include Amit Shah, Antonio Banderas, Olivia Colman, and Emily Mortimer, who is set to take over from Sally Hawkins as Mary Brown. Rachel Zegler was involved earlier this year, and due to play Banderas' onscreen daughter Gina, but she's been forced to exit the project due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Carla Tous has since been assigned the role.
"I'm very excited to see [it] because it was a wonderful script and I think Paddington fans are going to be very thrilled," Zegler later told Collider.
Colman will play a character named The Reverend Mother, a "blithe and sunny" nun who runs a Home for Retired Bears, while Banderas will play riverboat captain Hunter Cabot.
"For me, it has felt the right time to hand the reins over to another, and one can't get much better than the truly wonderful Emily Mortimer, she is extraordinarily special. She will embody the essence of Mary Brown and yet make it utterly her own," Hawkins explained in a statement. "However, I am, and will always be in love with Paddington's world.
"I already greatly miss my on and off-screen family – the experience of making the first two films has truly been some of the best and most creative times I have had in the world of film. They both gave me so much joy. I will forever hold them so very close to my heart indeed."
Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant have starred as the antagonists in each of the existing films, so it seems safe to assume that another A-Lister will be going toe-to-claw with Paddington in the next movie, too. Who's to say their involvement hasn't been announced already? We'll be sure to keep you updated.
Paddington 3 plot
Fans of the Paddington franchise will know that the titular cub hails from Peru and that his Aunt Lucy still resides there, so it's likely that Paddington 3 will see the fuzzy youngster travel back to his country of birth to visit her. For now, though, we don't know anything concrete about the story, which was conjured up by Paul King, Simon Farnaby and Mark Burton. Burton, Jon Foster and James Lamont penned the script.
While we wait for more info on Paddington 3, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies coming our way in 2023 and beyond.
