Harry Potter producer, David Heyman, is moving on to another much loved children’s character, leaving Hogwarts behind and teaming up with Studiocanal to bring Paddington Bear to the big screen for the first time.
The film will be a CGI/live action adaptation of Michael Bond’s best selling books, and designed as a modern take on Paddington, targeted at a wide family audience. A bit of a modern take is probably necessary, as while the Paddington tales are very charming, they’re a little bit staid for 21st Century cinema.
Since the first book’s publication, in 1958, the Paddington books have sold more than 35 million copies worldwide, in 40 different languages. Paddington was also recently named the UK’s most loved animated character.
The film, directed by Paul King (twice BAFTA nominated for Come Fly With Me and The Mighty Boosh), will tell the story of a curious young bear from deepest, darkeest Peru who finds his way to Paddington Station and is taken home by an English family. David Heyman commented, “Paddington Bear is a universally loved character, treasured for his optimism, his sense of fair play, and his perfect manners – and of course for his unintentional talent for comic chaos. Michael Bond’s books offer such wit and wonder, and I am so delighted at this chance to bring Paddington to the big screen.”
There’s no news on exactly when we might see the film in cinemas.
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