Bridget Jones 4 has been officially confirmed, with Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant set to reprise their iconic roles.
The fourth installment in the acclaimed franchise, based on the books by Helen Fielding, will be titled Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, with Zellweger returning as the witty bachelor, along with Grant as lover Daniel Cleaver.
Emma Thompson, who played Doctor Rawlings in 2016’s Bridget Jones’s Baby, is also back, with Chiwetel Ejiofor and White Lotus and One Day star Leo Woodall will also star, according to THR.
To Leslie director Michael Morris will direct the film, based on the 2013 novel of the same name, from a screenplay written by author Fielding.
But things haven’t always been perfect between the two lead stars, Hugh and Renée, and Hugh raised his eyebrows when the American actress was originally cast in the role.
Bridget Jones 4 has been officially confirmed, with Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant set to reprise their iconic roles (seen in 2004).
But things haven’t always been perfect between the two main stars, Hugh and Renée, and Hugh raised his eyebrows when the American actress was given the role.
Hugh had some concerns about American author Helen’s British character, and said he initially thought casting her in the role was a “overkill.”
Speaking in a 2020 documentary about the films, she said: ‘There was a whole fuss about why she’s not a British actress. I didn’t know Renée Zellweger, and a Texan playing a British character seemed exaggerated.’
She went on to admit that her co-star’s first attempt at adopting a British accent “sounded like Princess Margaret.”
Hugh added: “They told her to do it, well she thought she’d better loosen it up a bit.” Then she walked in and it was Princess Margaret who had suffered a stroke. But a week later everything was in full swing.’
However, they soon became firm friends while working on the film and he previously said of their off-screen friendship: “I love Renee.” She is one of the few actresses with whom I have not fought. And we get along very well together.
‘We still exchange long emails. Yours in particular, at least 70 pages each, interesting material, but quite difficult to decipher. She is a really good egg and a genius. Did you see Judy Garland? Almost the best acting can be.
It comes as Bridget Jones fans have vowed to boycott the upcoming fourth film if beloved character Mark Darcy is not included.
Hugh had some concerns about the British character of Helen, an American author, and said he initially thought casting her in the role was a “overkill.”
Speaking in a 2020 documentary about the films, she said: ‘There was a whole fuss about why she’s not a British actress. I didn’t know Renée Zellweger, and a Texan playing a British character seemed exaggerated.’
The romantic comedies of the 2000s defined a generation, with millions of women identifying with protagonist Bridget, who worried about her weight, her bad smoking and drinking habits, and whether she would ever find a partner.
In the films, Bridget navigated several love triangles, primarily with Mark and Daniel.
In the third film, it seemed like Bridget had finally found her happy ending when she settled down with lawyer Mark and got married after welcoming their first child together.
So, with news of a fourth film on the way, fans were excited to see what Bridget and Mark would do next, only to be devastated when Colin’s name disappeared from the cast list.
Since then, fears have spread on social media that the fourth film will follow the direction of the third book, which tragically killed off Mark and followed Bridget as she navigated life as a widow and mother of two.
On X, formerly Twitter, fans shared: ‘Bridget Jones 4 without Colin Firth… no thanks. #Colin Firth’;
‘Bridget Jones 4 without Colin Firth, no thanks, useless, he’s the only reason I watched and liked the last 3 films, I like him a lot.’;
“I think Mum and I will ditch the new Bridget Jones movie if Colin Firth isn’t in it.”; ‘bring back colin firth too, there’s no bridget jones without mark darcy’;
‘I’m sorry, but what is the purpose of making another Bridget Jones Diary movie? Especially without Colin and his Mark Darcy, Bridget’s only love.’;
‘The plot of Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is that Bridget becomes a widow after the death of Mark Darcy. So, are Colin and Hugh’s characters going to be ghosts?’;
‘It’s worrying how the Bridget Jones books are a Bridget Jones movie without Colin Firth.’; ‘A Bridget Jones movie without Colin Firth is a no for me. That’s all.’;
‘The disappointment I feel that Colin Firth will not appear in the next Bridget Jones is… overwhelming. Then finding out it’s because she’s a widow. I am inconsolable. Please respect my privacy at this difficult time.’;
“Bridget Jones’s Diary 4 is happening, but it seems like they’re going by the book and Colin Firth won’t be in it, so what’s the point.”
In Bridget Jones’ third novel, Mad About The Boy, which is also the title of the upcoming fourth film, it was revealed that Mark had died five years earlier in a landmine accident in Sudan, shortly after welcoming a second child with Bridget. .
Readers were outraged by the unexpected twist, and author Helen later revealed that she made the decision after the His father’s death in a car accident made him realize that life has many “twists and turns.”
After the book’s release in 2013, he said, “It’s like the keys on a piano, right?” There are white notes and black notes.
‘And there is a tragicomic element in my writing; The happy ending is just where you choose to end a book. Life, with all its twists and turns, continues beyond.’
In the novel, Bridget is 51 years old and tries to overcome her grief while caring for children Billy and Mabel, ages seven and five.
The fourth installment in the acclaimed franchise, based on the books by Helen Fielding, will be titled Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, with Zellweger returning as the witty bachelor, alongside Grant as lover Daniel Cleaver.
To Leslie director Michael Morris will direct the film, based on the 2013 novel of the same name, from a screenplay written by author Fielding.
She is still searching for her happy ending and embarks on a romance with a younger man while trying to navigate the modern dating scene.
While the identity of the young lover has yet to be announced, it is telling that the cast features Hollywood heartthrob of the moment, Leo Woodall.
The One Day star, 27, has been confirmed to star in the upcoming film in a currently undisclosed role.
The plot of the book suggests that there is a good chance that Leo could also play the role of her younger lover.
Fans also predicted that if the movie takes place in the future, Leo could play Bridget’s son.