4th Movie In One of the Best Franchises of the Last 15 Years Gets an Exciting Update

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The Paddington movies have become one of the most successful and beloved film franchises in recent years. All three films have been both critically acclaimed and popular with audiences, and are widely considered to be excellent movies for everyone, not just families. Given its continued success, the franchise is still going strong, with a fourth Paddington film already in development. Progress on Paddington 4 is now underway as the team of writers and filmmakers begins to come together.

Armando Iannucci, known for shows like Veep and The Thick of It, will write the script for Paddington 4, according to Variety. He’ll be collaborating with Simon Blackwell, a frequent writing partner. Dougal Wilson, who directed Paddington in Peru, is also likely to direct the fourth film and is currently in discussions to return.

Will Paddington 4 Continue the Franchise’s Hot Streak?

It’s understandable why the studio wants to work with director Dougal Wilson again. He took over the Paddington series with the third film after Tom King directed the first two, and he did a fantastic job. While Paddington in Peru didn’t receive quite as much critical acclaim as the earlier movies – it has a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 65, both the lowest for the series – most people agree it’s a charming and fun family film that everyone can enjoy. Wilson clearly understood how to make a great Paddington movie, so fans are eager to see what he does next.

This will be the first time Armando Iannucci and Brett Blackwell have worked on a Paddington movie, and it’ll be fascinating to see their creative input. Their previous shows, Veep and The Thick of It, appeal to a very different audience than the Paddington films – those shows are satirical comedies focusing on the worlds of American and British politics. While Paddington 4 will definitely be more suitable for families, Iannucci and Blackwell’s comedic experience should be a great asset. Paddington has always been a cheerful and enjoyable adventure, so it’s a smart move to bring in comedy writers for the script.

Hopefully, new creative voices will keep the Paddington films successful. After Paddington in Peru offered a change of scenery, the filmmakers could bring fresh energy by approaching the story in a new way. Paddington doesn’t need a radical overhaul, but a bit of revitalization is important, especially for a series that’s been running for a while. Given how much people love Paddington, it would be disappointing if the fourth movie didn’t live up to expectations and stalled the franchise. The producers should be commended for choosing a writing team with a strong background – even if their previous work isn’t what most fans would expect from a Paddington film.

When Paddington 4 was initially announced in 2024, StudioCanal estimated it would be released in either 2027 or 2028, and that timeline still seems accurate. With the studio likely assembling the film’s creative team now, production could begin soon – possibly later this year or early 2027, after the script is finished. Considering the 70th anniversary of Paddington is in 2028, the studio might choose to release Paddington 4 then, giving the team – including Iannucci, Blackwell, and Wilson – ample time to perfect the script and production without rushing.

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2026-05-26 19:10