email print share on Facebook share on Twitter share on LinkedIn share on reddit pin on Pinterest

PRODUCTION UK / France

Paul King commences Paddington 2

by 

- Hugh Grant, Brendan Gleeson join cast

Paul King commences Paddington 2
Director Paul King

Director Paul King has commenced principal photography on Paddington 2, the sequel to 2014 hit Paddington that grossed more than $288 million worldwide. In this edition co-written by King and Simon Farnaby (2016 BFI London Film Festival selection Mindhorn), Paddington bear is happily settled in with the Brown family at Windsor Gardens. He finds the perfect gift for Aunt Lucy’s hundredth birthday, but it gets stolen. Paddington and the Browns must now find the thief. 

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

British actor Ben Whishaw, recently seen in Tom Tykwer’s A Hologram for the King [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, will voice Paddington again and veteran British actress Imelda Staunton returns to voice Aunt Lucy. The returning cast also has a roster of household British names including Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent and Peter Capaldi. In addition, British icon Hugh Grant joins the cast as the antagonist Phoenix Buchanan, a vain actor who is past his prime. Irish veteran Brendan Gleeson, recently seen in well received 2016 BFI London Film Festival selection Trespass Against Us [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Adam Smith
film profile
]
, plays Knuckles McGinty, a safecracker who becomes Paddington’s friend. 

Studiocanal is financing Paddington 2 [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, is handling international sales and will roll out the film in the UK on 10 November 2017, followed by releases in France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. David Heyman (the Harry Potter films) is producing via his production outfit Heyday Films.

King began his career in television. Between 2004 and 2007 he directed 20 episodes of the hit television show The Mighty Boosh for which we was BAFTA nominated for Best New Director. He made his feature debut with Bunny and the Bull [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
(2009), which won Best Achievement in Production at the British Independent Film Awards. Another television programme directed by King, Come Fly With Me (2010), secured a BAFTA nomination for Best Comedy Programme. Paddington [+see also:
trailer
making of
film profile
]
was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best British Film at the 2015 BAFTAs and won Best Comedy at the 2015 Empire Awards.

King said, “It has been a complete joy to return to the world of Paddington. It was such a delight to see his first big screen adventure embraced by audiences around the world, and I couldn't be more excited about Hugh and Brendan joining the cast to bring his next outing to life. Together, I hope we can make a film worthy of this most exceptional of bears.” 

Heyman said, “I am thrilled to be back in the warm embrace of Paddington Bear, again under the inspired direction of Paul King. And I'm delighted to welcome Hugh and Brendan to our exceptional cast.”

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.

Privacy Policy