'Paddington 2' begins principal photography, adds Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson to cast

Image from Damaris Film Blog

By Darian Scalamoni

            I recently was able to see the 2014 animated film, Paddington for the first time and it was such a pleasant surprise. It was a charming, cute little family movie that I enjoyed very much. The movie made $270 million worldwide which makes it the highest grossing independent family film ever. This has fast-tracked a sequel that has just started filming and has added a few more stars according to Variety.

            In addition to Ben Whishaw returning as the voice of the beloved title bear, Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson have joined the cast. The sequel will see Paddington, now settled in with the Brown family and a popular part of the community work odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy’s 100^th birthday, only for that gift to be stolen. It sounds like a great premise for the mischievous bear to get into.

            Grant is set to play local celebrity, Phoenix Buchanan, a vain and charming acting legend who has fallen on hard times. While Gleeson is playing “Knuckles” McGinty, a safe-cracker and strongman who becomes an unexpected ally to Paddington. Along with the new cast members, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent and Peter Capaldi are all returning for the movie. Paddington 2 doesn’t have a release date yet but is presumed to be released by late 2017 or early 2018.