Chiwetel Ejiofor has revealed for the first time what he thinks about playing a love interest in a romantic comedy film.
The actor, 47, will star alongside Renee Zellweger in the upcoming comedy-romance film Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, in which she plays a teacher who has an affair with the main character after the death of her husband Mark Darcy. .
Although Chiwetel has played a romantic couple in films before, notably as Peter opposite Keira Knightley in Love Actually, this will be the first time their on-screen love story will be central to the plot of a traditional romantic comedy.
In a new interview with FALLA MagazineChiwetel, whose previous roles range from the tragic Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave to the cunning Mordo in the Doctor Strange films, discussed his romantic role in the fourth installment of the hit franchise ahead of its Valentine’s Day release.
Chiwetel, who plays Professor Wallaker, noted that he had not gone out of his way to avoid those roles, explaining: “I don’t think I’ve ever avoided them in my acting. I feel like I’ve always been excited about different roles, what a role means and what it means.” What does a character mean?
“I haven’t leaned into or avoided anything in my career, and I don’t think I ever would. I don’t think there’s a genre I wouldn’t do. I’m excited about roles, I’m excited about characters, I’m excited about stories, and I’m excited about audiences: what attracts the audience and what moves them.’
Chiwetel Ejiofor has revealed for the first time what he thinks about playing a love interest in a romantic comedy film.
The actor, 47, will star alongside Renee Zellweger (pictured) in the upcoming comedy-romance film Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, in which she plays a teacher who has an affair with the main character after his death. from her husband, Mark. darcy
He went on to say that all of the elements he listed came together “really beautifully” in Bridget Jones, adding that portraying her character is “really fascinating.”
Meanwhile, the Z For Zachariah actor expressed his opinion on romance in 40+ movies, noting how sensuality and romantic life are “joyfully reflected” and “embraced” on screen at all ages. , especially in middle age.
Amid the fact that the majority of the cast is over 40, Chiwetel continued: “I think there’s a recent trend to focus on specific age groups when exploring attraction and romance, but historically, films have embraced the love and relationships in middle age and beyond. So it’s not a departure from cinematic traditions. I think the Bridget Jones films resonate because audiences have grown up with Bridget, reflecting on her romantic experiences, both the ways in which we mature like the shapes in that we don’t do it.’
He went on to explain that while there is “youthful romantic energy,” these films go deeper and explore the “enduring ideas of romance,” no matter what “stage of life” you’re in.
In the new Bridget Jones movie, Bridget enjoys an affair with Chiwetel’s teacher character, as well as rekindling her on-off relationship with Hugh Grant’s Daniel Cleaver.
She will also embark on a love story with a much younger man called Rockstar, played by One Day star Leo Woodall, 27, in the film.
The film is based on the novel of the same name in which Bridget struggles alone with motherhood after the tragic death of Mark, played in the previous films by 63-year-old Colin Firth.
Renee and Leo were seen filming together on May 18 in hilarious scenes when Bridget got stuck in a tree on Hampstead Heath.
In a new interview with FAULT magazine, Chiwetel opened up about his romantic role in the fourth installment of the hit franchise ahead of its Valentine’s Day release.
“I haven’t leaned into or avoided anything in my career, and I don’t think I ever would. I don’t think there’s a genre I wouldn’t do. I’m excited about the parts, I’m excited about the characters, I’m excited about the stories.
He went on to say that all of the elements he listed came together “really beautifully” in Bridget Jones, adding that it’s “really fascinating” to play her character.
Chiwetel and Renee in romantic comedy sequel
Meanwhile, the Z For Zachariah actor expressed his opinion on romance in 40+ movies, noting how sensuality and romantic life are “joyfully reflected” and “accepted” on screen at all ages. , especially in middle age.
Rockstar, who works as a park ranger, apparently comes to her rescue dressed in an all-green uniform.
One viewer said: ‘Leo and Renee looked like they were having a great time. There was a lot of laughter and they seemed to get along very well.’
The filming of Bridget Jones comes on the heels of much fan delight following the announcement of the beloved character’s return to the big screen.
Renee first appeared as Bridget in 2001’s Bridget Jones’ Diary and returned in 2004’s Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and 2016’s Bridget Jones’ Baby.
The film was officially confirmed earlier this year, with the returns of Renée and Hugh Grant made official, after the death of their love rat character, Daniel Cleaver, was faked in the 2016 third installment.
The fourth film in the franchise, based on the books by Helen Fielding, will be released by Universal Film on the American platform Peacock on Valentine’s Day 2025, while internationally the film will be released in theaters.
Emma Thompson, who played Doctor Rawlings in the last film, is also back, with Chiwetel and White Lotus star Leo also starring.