The screenwriters for Paddington 4 have just been announced, while a director is already lining up to join the project.
With the first two films, Paddington and Paddington 2, directed by Paul King (Wonka), the cinematic adaptation of the Paddington Bear books by author Michael Bond quickly found its audience, notably its biggest fan, Antoine, who cited the second installment among the best films of the 21st century. The third installment, titled Paddington in Peru, marked a turning point for the franchise with the arrival of a new director, Dougal Wilson.
Although StudioCanal announced in 2024 that Paddington 4 would indeed come to fruition, it was at CinemaCon 2026 that it was confirmed the project was in development and would bring in a new creative team. The new screenwriters have just been revealed, while a director has shown strong interest in continuing the adventures of the British bear.
Paddington new generation
Variety reported that the screenplay for Paddington 4 will be written by Armando Iannucci and Simon Blackwell, while director Dougal Wilson is eager to return. Armando Iannucci has worn many hats as a director and screenwriter of sharp satirical comedies, including the film The Death of Stalin. On the TV side, he has teamed with Simon Blackwell on The Thick of It, the brilliant Veep, and Avenue 5.
Dougal Wilson first made a name for himself directing music videos and shorts, earning a 2010 Grammy nomination for Best Music Video with Coldplay’s Life in Technicolor. Paddington 3 marked his feature-film debut, and although the movie did better financially than its two predecessors, it carried a higher budget (roughly $211 million) and performed as a modest hit. Still, it’s easy to imagine StudioCanal trusting the director again for the next chapter.
For the moment, details about the synopsis of the forthcoming Paddington adventures are still under wraps, and even less is known about the cast, though one could reasonably expect Ben Whishaw to reprise the voice of the young bear. The Brown family is also likely to return in force: Henry (Hugh Bonneville), Mary (Emily Mortimer), Jonathan (Samuel Joslin), and Judy (Madeleine Harris) along with Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters).
We also don’t yet know the release date for Paddington 4, though in 2024 StudioCanal had penciled in a release for 2027 or 2028
