Paddington 3 Is Officially Happening, What We Know

How does a movie like Paddington 2 not have a sequel yet? Almost universally beloved, and once the holder of a mythic perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, the follow-up to the 2018 sequel hasn’t seen much movement in recent years. While we shouldn’t expect to see this film on the roster of 2023 movie releases, there is some promising news that continues to make its way to the internet on the film we’ve been calling Paddington 3.

The good news is the threequel has finally and officially been announced, with a few sweet new details. And what's better, we now know when we should be expecting the return of our dear sandwich obsessed friend. So crack open a jar of marmalade and get reading!

Paddington 3 Started Shooting Over Summer 2023

The announcement that kicked off the happy news came from Twitter, as production company StudioCanal shared that July 24th was the start date for Paddington 3. With calls for triple marmalade sandwiches included with this joyous news, it was enough to wonder if Florence Pugh’s online friendship with Paddington would yield some sort of culinary celebration.

The Next Paddington Movie Has A Title

With the announcement of production starting this past summer, Paddington in Peru was revealed as the name for the third film in the series. Previously, details on the actual plot of this movie were sparse; but all of that changed after a recent update from Variety.

This third adventure takes Paddington and the Brown family on a family adventure into darkest Peru, where our young bear aims to reunite once again with his Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) at the Home for Retired Bears. Naturally, adventure and the meeting of new friends and foes ensues.

Paddington In Peru's Release Strategy Fits In With Franchise History

As THR announced the wrap of on-location filming in October 2023, the publication also revealed the good news of when we should expect Paddington in Peru to arrive in theaters. The current plan follows a similar pattern to that of the first two installments, with the UK release date being set a little over two months before the US.

Domestic audiences will get to see Paddington 3 take its bows on Jan. 17, 2025, while the UK will see the Brown Family's adventures on Nov. 8, 2024. Naturally this could always change, so fans are encouraged to keep their eyes open for further updates as they occur.

A Mix Of Fresh And Returning Talent Are Writing/Directing Paddington In Peru

The first two Paddington films were co-written and directed by Paul King, who sadly declined helming Paddington 3. King is still involved in this outing though, as Deadline confirms he shares story credit with co-writers Simon Farnaby and Mark Burton. The screenwriting team will consist of Burton, as well as writers Jon Foster and James Lamont.

Making his feature directing debut as Paddington in Peru’s director is Dougal Wilson. Hailing from a background of music videos and commercials, Wilson will be cutting his long-form narrative teeth with this beloved franchise. Paul King fans won’t have to wait too much longer to see his skills in action again, as he’s directing Warner Bros’ Wonka prequel, which is set to hit theaters this December.

Paddington In Peru’s Cast Is A Mix Of Old Friends And New Surprises

Previously, Paddington in Peru's cast was a total mystery. In fact, an interview between Ben Whishaw and Collider had the actor uncertain this next chapter was even happening. Rest assured, Whishaw will be returning as the voice of the adorable Paddington; as will Imelda Staunton, reprising the voice of Aunt Lucy.

Just as we'd hoped, Ben Whishaw’s loyalty to Paul King didn’t prevent him from rejoining the likes of his returning co-stars Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin. Sadly, Paddington 3 is the first installment without Sally Hawkins, who decided to step down from the role of Mrs. Brown.

Appearing in her Paddington franchise debut is Emily Mortimer, who will now be playing the matriarch of the Brown family. She's not the only new face coming on board, as Antonio Banderas and Academy Award winner Olivia Colman are all in talks to join the cast of Paddington in Peru.

Initially, The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes star Rachel Zegler was supposed to join the cast as well. However, due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Zegler had to bow out. Per a report from THR, her role was then recast with actor Carla Tous; who is known for her roles in projects like HBO's horror series 30 Coins.

There's still a bit of a wait for author Michael Bond’s uplifting ursine and his third helping of joy and adventure. So be sure to keep your eyes peeled on this guide for further updates on all things Paddington in Peru, as there's bound to be even more updates to come!