There's not that much longer to wait now until Paddington 3 arrives in cinemas, which is a mighty relief, to be honest, considering it's already been 7 years since the second film came out.
In short, we're itching to reunite with the marmalade-loving bear in the movie, which is officially titled Paddington in Peru, especially after the threequel's trailer gave us a taste of the globetrotting adventure he'll embark on in the third installment in the franchise.
Below, we pull together all there is to know about the follow-up, from who's taking over directing duties after Paul King stepped away from the behind the camera to new cast additions. We tell all about the plot, too, which sees Paddington and the Brown family travel overseas to visit his Aunt Lucy, only to get a surprise when they learn that Lucy has gone missing in the Amazonian jungle.
So, if you're keen to know more about the family-friendly flick, which is stacked with famous faces, wipe off your sticky, sandwich-grabbing paws and scroll on...
Paddington 3 release date
Paddington 3 started filming in July 2023 in London, Colombia and Peru, which is in keeping with the threequel's official title, Paddington in Peru, and wrapped in October that same year. It'll come out in UK cinemas on November 8, 2024.
Across the pond, the film releases in the US and Canada on January 17, 2025.
Paddington 3 cast
Paddington 3 will feature a mix of new and familiar faces. Ben Whishaw will return, reprising the role of Paddington himself. Other notable cast members making comebacks include Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, and Imelda Staunton, who voices Paddington's Aunt Lucy, who lives in Peru.
Newbies to the franchise include Amit Shah, Antonio Banderas, Olivia Colman, and Emily Mortimer, who is set to take over from Sally Hawkins as Mary Brown. Rachel Zegler was involved earlier this year, and due to play Banderas' onscreen daughter Gina, but she's been forced to exit the project due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Carla Tous has since been assigned the role.
"I'm very excited to see [it] because it was a wonderful script and I think Paddington fans are going to be very thrilled," Zegler later told Collider.
Colman will play a character named The Reverend Mother, a "blithe and sunny" nun who runs the Home for Retired Bears, while Banderas will play riverboat captain Hunter Cabot.
"For me, it has felt the right time to hand the reins over to another, and one can't get much better than the truly wonderful Emily Mortimer, she is extraordinarily special. She will embody the essence of Mary Brown and yet make it utterly her own," Hawkins explained in a statement. "However, I am, and will always be in love with Paddington's world.
"I already greatly miss my on and off-screen family – the experience of making the first two films has truly been some of the best and most creative times I have had in the world of film. They both gave me so much joy. I will forever hold them so very close to my heart indeed."
Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant have starred as the antagonists in each of the existing films, so it seems safe to assume that another A-Lister will be going toe-to-claw with Paddington in the next movie, too. Who's to say their involvement hasn't been announced already? We'll be sure to keep you updated.
Paddington 3 trailer and plot
The trailer for Paddington in Peru was unveiled on June 12, and it teases quite the adventure. Watch it above.
It opens with Paddington getting his picture taken so that he can get a passport, but things go bear-y wrong when he misunderstands the photo booth's instructions. Later, he, the Browns, and Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters) fly out to Peru to pay a visit to Aunt Lucy at the Home for Retired Bears. There's a problem, though... Lucy, according to Olivia Colman's nun, went on an expedition in the Amazon a while back and never returned. So now it's up to Paddington and his family to venture into the jungle, find her, and bring her back safely.
While we wait for more info on Paddington 3, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies coming our way in 2023 and beyond.
