Paddington 3 is officially in active development. Representatives from StudioCanal, one of the production companies behind the series, recently told Variety as much:
We can confirm Studiocanal is working very hard on film 3 with the utmost craft and care — as with film 1 and 2.”
This isn’t much to go on. But considering the amount of love the first two movies received, it’s a relief just to know it’s coming. Hugh Bonneville, who plays Henry Brown in the movies, also recently assured moviegoers. He appeared on BBC Radio 2’s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on February 12. And he said there was “forward momentum” on the project, sure that it is “somewhere on the horizon.”
The Road to Paddington 3
2014’s Paddington is based on the popular children’s book series by Michael Bond, the first of which released in 1958. It follows a young Peruvian bear who moves to London and eventually moves in with the Brown family. Hijinks ensue. But the film also received praise for its warmth and charm, earning $280 million worldwide on a budget of $55 million.
2017’s Paddington 2 did slightly better critically, though slightly worse financially. It brought in around $227 million worldwide. However, its budget was lower at an estimated $40 million. It additionally had a bit of an uphill battle when it came to the US. Its domestic distributor, The Weinstein Company, filed for bankruptcy in 2017 following co-founder Harvey Weinstein’s downfall during the #MeToo movement. Warner Bros. acquired the distribution rights, though the movie still underperformed in the US.
For Paddington 3, StudioCanal is again partnering with David Heyman’s Heyday Films, the studio that also helped bring the Harry Potter franchise to the big screen. Paul King, the director of both movies, will still be involved in the project but won’t be directing. He recently signed on to another Warner Bros. project, a Willy Wonka origin story that has been in development since 2018 and will release in March of 2023.
Overall though, what are your thoughts on the next film being in development? Are you excited? Let us know in the comments below.