StudioCanal has brought back originalPaddingtondirectorPaul Kingto take the helm on the upcoming sequel,Paddington 2.Deadlinereports that the studio and producerDavid Heymanhad been courting the filmmaker to return forPaddington 2after the original became a financial success. The director has also come aboard to help craft the story with writer Simon Farnaby, an actor-writer who actually played Barry inPaddington.
The report reveals that StudioCanal is hoping to turn this property into a long-running franchise, although no story details have been revealed at this time. The originalPaddingtonwas considered a big gamble for StudioCanal, since they fully financed the movie, budgeted at $55 million. The risk paid off, with the movie taking in $76.2 million domestically and $259.5 million worldwide, along with healthy ancillary revenues and merchandise tie-ins.
The first movie, based on the beloved novels by Michael Bond, told the story of the comic misadventures of a young Peruvian bear (voiced byBen Whishaw) who travels to the city in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone, he begins to realize that city life is not all he had imagined - until he meets the kindly Brown family who read the label around his neck that says “Please look after this bear. Thank you,” and offer him a temporary haven. It looked as though his luck had changed until this rarest of bears caught the eye of a museum taxidermist named Millicent Clyde (Nicole Kidman).
It isn’t known ifBen Whishawwill return to voice the title character, or if starsNicole Kidman,Julie Walters,Jim Broadbent,Peter Capaldi,Imelda Staunton,Michael Gambon,Hugh Bonneville,Sally Hawkinsand Geoffrey Palmer will reprise their roles for the sequel. While StudioCanal is anxious to get production rolling onPaddington 2, neither the studio norDavid Heymanplan on rushing the director into production until he feels the story is right. We’ll have to wait and see how long it takesPaul Kingand Simon Farnaby to get the sequel script ready.
Paul Kingmade his directorial debut withBunny and the Bull, which also starred Simon Farnaby along with Edward Hogg andRichard Ayoade. He has also directed several episodes ofThe Mighty Booshand Come Fly with Me before transitioning into feature films. Are you looking forward toPaddington 2hitting theaters sometime in the near future?
