Paddington Bear Goes to Hollywood

Posted on September 14, 2007

Paddington Bear is heading to the silver screen. Warner Bros. and producer David Heyman are teaming up to create a live action Paddington Bear adventure. Hamish McColl is writing the screenplay. Michael Bond wrote eleven of the books about a talking bear who gets adopted by a London family who finds him, lost and alone, at Paddington Station.

Paddington has journeyed from Darkest Peru, wearing a duffle coat, hat and Wellington boots, carrying a suitcase containing an empty jar of marmalade and wearing a label around his neck that reads "Please look after this bear, thank you." His arrival in the household of the Brown family leads to comic mishaps and misadventures for the well-meaning but accident-prone young bear.

Heyman, who is producing through his London-based shingle Heyday Films, commented, "Paddington Bear is a universally loved character, and I have wanted to bring him to screen for some years. Michael Bond's 'Paddington' books have such wit, wonder and charm. Essentially, Paddington's story is that of an immigrant arriving in London and trying to find a home and a family. Above all, I love Paddington's unique style of comedy."

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The Warner film will not be adapted from any specific book but will draw inspiration from the whole series. It's likely to be live action with a CGI bear in the manner of "Stuart Little."

We thought the CGI was really creepy in Stuart Little, so we're not so sure about this. Let's hope the technology has improved since then and that Paddington Bear will look endearing, not revolting.

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