Following his epic adventure inPaddington in Peru, the lovable bear is already set to return inPaddington 4. Children’s author Michael Bond created the Paddington character in 1958, but it would take until 2014 for the marmalade-loving ursine to make the jump to the big screen. The basic framework of the story concerns an anthropomorphic bear as he travels from Peru to London to live with the Brown family. The quintessential fish-out-of-water character, Paddington’s well-meaning antics often cause chaos in the ordered lives of the Browns, and various other Londoners who happen to cross paths with him.
Already a bona fide cultural institution by the time the first movie premiered,Paddingtonbecame a critical darling and box office smash all around the globe. This necessitated a sequel in 2017 thatvery nearly scored 100% onRotten Tomatoes,but ultimately lost that distinction due to one bad review.Paddington in Perucame in 2024 (in the UK), and though it marked a considerable dip in critical reception, it nevertheless attained overwhelmingly positive reviews and continued the franchise’s box office success. Before the trilogy-capper even arrived,Paddington 4was given the green-light and announced to the world.
StudioCanal Announces A Fourth Movie (& TV Show Too)
Image via Sony Pictures
With the announcement coming months before the release ofPaddington in Peru, the latest news confirms thatPaddington 4is in the works. StudioCanal CEO Françoise Guyonnet spoke candidly about the future of the franchise, andmade it clear thatPaddington in Peruwas not the end of the bear’s big-screen adventures. Along with the revelation thatPaddington 4is in the works, Guyonnet also announced that aPaddingtonTV series is also developing, though details about both projects are understandably scant.
ThoughPaddingtonhas only starred in three feature films so far, the marmalade fanatic has been appearing on the telly since as far back as 1966. Though Guyonnet couldn’t give much away about the movie’s story details, he did let slip thathe expects to deliverPaddington 4by “2027, ’28.“It’s unclear if he means the film will have a split release across 2027 and 2028 (arriving in different territories at different times), or if he is merely giving the team a wide window in case delays prevent it from arriving in 2027.
Paddington in Perupremiered on June 07, 2025, in the United States.
Paddington 4 Is Confirmed
Paddington Is Set To Return In 2027 Or 2028
Taking the suspense entirely out of the equation (andspoiling the fate of one major character inPaddington in Peru), StudioCanal revealed thatPaddington 4was in the works in September 2024. This came two months before the third film’s UK premiere in November 2024, and preemptively predictedPaddington in Peru’s box office success. Fortunately,StudioCanal’s impatience proved to be founded, and it’s clear that a bigger plan for the franchise is in place. Along with the fourth movie, a new TV show was also revealed.
Since Paddington is a cultural institution in the UK, 2028 is going to be a big year for the franchise.
While many details are still unknown, it has also been confirmed thatPaddington 4has a release window of 2027 or 2028, and those dates are significant to the character’s illustrious history. If StudioCanal does premierePaddington 4in 2028, it will be exactly 70 years after the character first appeared inA Bear Called Paddingtonby Michael Bond in 1958. Since Paddington is a cultural institution in the UK, 2028 is going to be a big year for the franchise. More comprehensive information is expected soon, but the potential blockbuster likely won’t miss its 2027-28 window.
Paddington 4 Cast Details
Paddington & The Browns Are Expected To Return
For now, no cast members are attached toPaddington 4. However, it’s easy to guess whichcast members will returnto reprise their roles.Ben Whishaw has provided the voice for the lovable ursine for all three movies thus far, and there’s no reason to think that he won’t return once again. Likewise, Hugh Bonneville has played Paddington’s adoptive human father, Henry Brown, in all three films, and the worry-wart is expected back as well. Emily Mortimer assumed the role of Henry’s open-minded wife, Mary Brown, inPaddington 3, but it’s unclear if she’ll play the role again.
The role of Mary Brown was originally played by Sally Hawkins.
The two Brown family children, Judy (played by Madeleine Harris) and Jonathan (Samuel Joslin) have been on hand for all three movies so far, and they should return too. Likewise, the Brown family’s wry housekeeper, Mrs. Bird, will once again be played by Julie Walters. Imelda Staunton voices Paddington’s Aunt Lucy, who lives in the retirement home for bears back in Peru, but she usually always finds a way to appear in each movie.One question mark is the return of Hugh Grant as jailed actor Phoenix Buchanan, and his cameo inPaddington 3implies he’ll be back again.
Paddington 4 Story Details
Paddington Returns To London For Another Adventure
Paddington in Perutook the bear and the Brown family to the jungles of Darkest Peru to look for the missing Aunt Lucy, butPaddington 4will likely see them return to the familiar streets of London. While little is known about the plot of the upcoming sequel, there was an unusual tease during the post-credits sequence inPaddington 3.The Browns, Paddington, and Paddington’s bear family visited Hugh Grant’s Phoenix Buchanan in prison, and he implied that he’d be returning. In particular, he made a comment about the bear family’s fur, perhaps suggesting he’s after their hides.
Paddington In Peru’s Post-Credits Scenes & Major Cameo Explained
Paddington In Peru is the third modern film focused on the titular bear, and his adventures back to his home country bring back a fan-favorite role.
However, that could have merely been a red herring, andPaddington 4could introduce a brand-new villain to vex Paddington and the Browns. Paddington’s next adventure could also involve his newfound family, and the knowledge that he has an entire clan of bears back in Peru could somehow tie back into the storyline. While Paddington picked his found family (the Browns) at the end ofPaddington in Peru, he might struggle with his separation from the bears in his home country.
Paddington
ThePaddingtonfranchise is a beloved film and television series based on the character Paddington Bear, created by British author Michael Bond. The franchise began with the 2014 filmPaddington, which follows the adventures of a polite Peruvian bear who finds a home with the Brown family in London. The series is known for its heartwarming storytelling, charming humor, and its themes of kindness, family, and adventure. The success of the films has led to sequels, a television series, and an upcoming third film, making Paddington a staple of modern family entertainment.
