‘Paddington 4’ confirmed by StudioCanal as development begins on new family film

StudioCanal has confirmed ‘Paddington 4’ is in development, with an A-list cast expected to return

StudioCanal has confirmed that a fourth live-action Paddington film is officially in development, continuing one of the studio’s most successful family film franchises.

Canal+ chief executive Maxime Saada announced the project on Tuesday, confirming that Paddington 4 is moving forward with what he described as an “A-list” cast.

However, the studio has not revealed a release date or further details about its distribution plans.

The announcement came as Canal+ renewed its agreement with French cinema organisations until 2032, committing to invest around €1 billion in French and European cinema over five years from 2028.

As part of the arrangement, Canal+ will continue to receive early access to theatrical releases in France, including the upcoming Paddington 4, which will arrive on the broadcaster’s platform six months after its cinema debut.

Speaking to Reuters, Saada said, “When we buy and we have deals with Universal, Warner, Paramount … all of these movies are available on the Canal+ platform in France six months after release. When Netflix has a deal with Universal, they have to wait until 15 months to broadcast the movie (in France).”

He added, “So we committed to spending an extra €50 million a year, approximately.”

The previous Paddington films, released in 2014, 2017 and 2024, achieved both critical and commercial success, with Ben Whishaw providing the voice of the beloved bear throughout the series.

According to the source, Hugh Bonneville recently indicated he is unlikely to reprise his role as Mr Brown.

Speaking to Saga Magazine, he said: “I don’t think so. I really don’t. I’ve loved it, but I’m getting on a bit. It’s a younger man’s job, but you can get other actors in and it will work just as well, because it’s all about the bear.”

Oscar-nominated writer Armando Iannucci will co-write the screenplay alongside long-time collaborator Simon Blackwell, following the project’s earlier announcement at Comic-Con.

Further casting details and a production timetable have yet to be announced.