This article contains spoilers
Renée Zellweger will return as the famous fictional character Bridget Jones in a new sequel, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, which will also star Hugh Grant and Leo Woodall, it has been confirmed.
The fourth instalment will continue the saga, with Jones unexpectedly having a baby but dealing with loss and the strange waters of internet dating – as well as reuniting with an old flame.
The movie is based on Helen Fielding’s 2013 novel of the same title and the big news is that Colin Firth’s Mark Darcy will not be back – with the character being killed off.
Instead, Hugh Grant is set to reprise his role as love interest Daniel Cleaver, having sat out the previous film, Bridget Jones’s Baby in 2016. Also coming on board will be 27-year-old London actor Leo Woodall, who will play the much younger love interest.
Of the fourth movie, a source told the Mail on Sunday: “Bridget is back and is about to take over London. Filming is being mapped out already and all of the pre-production is in place.”
Zellweger, 54, is reportedly "excited" about reviving her role.
So what can we expect from Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy? Here's what you need to know.
What is the new Bridget Jones film about?
The new film is rumoured to be based on Helen Fielding’s 2013 novel, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy. This follows Jones as a 51-year-old single mother to two children in the modern era of social media and dating apps.
The narrative will pick up after the death of Mark Darcy, with Jones being torn between Grant’s Cleaver and Leo Woodall, who is set to play a 30-year-old who starts sleeping with the protagonist.
The blurb of the 2013 book reads: “Is it morally wrong to have a blow-dry when one of your children has head lice?
“Is technology now the fifth element? Or is that wood? Is sleeping with someone after two dates and six weeks of texting the same as getting married after two meetings and six months of letter writing in Jane Austen's day?
“Pondering these, and other modern dilemmas, Bridget Jones stumbles through the challenges of single-motherhood, tweeting, texting and rediscovering her sexuality in what SOME people rudely and outdatedly call 'middle age'. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is timely, tender, touching, witty, wise and bloody hilarious.”
There were rumours last year that a fourth film had been axed owing to the Hollywood actors’ strikes, with Fielding saying every film that got made was a “miracle”.
She previously told the Radio Times: “I think it’s really difficult to make films and to make them happen and to make them good and we want it to be really good. But I really hope so. I’d love to see it on the screen.”
Zellweger was said to be looking for somewhere to live in London with her boyfriend, TV presenter and former Hertfordshire Constabulary policeman Ant Anstead, while she is working on the project.
She rented an apartment in Kensington, west London, while filming previously.
When is Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy being released?
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy will shoot in London this summer with a view to release it on Valentine’s Day next year.
The franchise has so far taken $760m (£605m) at the box office and the first film earned Zellweger a best actress Oscar nomination.
