Paddington 4 Gains New Creative Team

StudioCanal confirmed Emmy-winning writer Armando Iannucci and long-time collaborator Simon Blackwell will co-write the fourth Paddington film. Known for the political satires *Veep* and *The Thick of It*, they replace the previous writing teams. Director Dougal Wilson, who helmed *Paddington in Peru* (2024), is reported to be in talks to return, though no formal confirmation has been issued.

Armando Iannucci and Simon Blackwell to pen Paddington 4

The series began with *Paddington* (2014), earning about $333 million on a $40 million budget. *Paddington 2* (2017) grossed $290 million from a similar budget. *Paddington in Peru* (2024) made roughly $211 million against a $90 million budget, the lowest of the three. Sources list the franchise’s total box-office as $800 million (Variety) or $700 million (Deadline).

Deadline Hollywood

Iannucci has multiple Emmys and an Oscar nomination for *In the Loop*, and created *The Thick of It* and *Veep*. Blackwell, also an Emmy-winner, co-wrote those series and contributed to *In the Loop* and *The Personal History of David Copperfield*, which featured Ben Whishaw as Paddington’s voice. Wilson, an award-winning commercial and music-video director, moved to feature films with *Paddington in Peru* and is praised for his “Paddingtonian” sensibility.

Variety Magazine

• Budgets: First two films ? $40 million each; third film ? $90 million.

Deadline Hollywood

• Grosses: $333 million (2014), $290 million (2017), $211 million (2024).

Deadline Hollywood

• Franchise total: Reported as $800 million (Variety) or $700 million (Deadline).

Deadline Hollywood

StudioCanal CEO Anna Marsh, at CinemaCon, said the studio had “thought about the next movies” and confirmed that top comedy writers had been hired. Producer Rosie Alison noted Wilson was “Paddingtonian” and embodied “all the positive values of the bear.”

Variety Magazine

Observers note Iannucci’s political-satire background represents “several giant leaps” from his work on Dickens adaptations and dark comedy. Some question whether his sharp wit will match Paddington’s tone, speculating the script could add “political” elements that diverge from the franchise’s family-friendly formula.

‘Paddington 4’ enlists ‘Veep’ creator Armando Iannucci as Writer as Dougal Wilson eyes return to direct

• Box-office totals: $800 million (Variety) vs. $700 million (Deadline).

Deadline Hollywood

• Director status: Wilson is “in talks” (Variety, Deadline) but not officially confirmed (StudioCanal).

Deadline Hollywood

• Plot details: No storyline information has been released, leaving narrative direction uncertain.

Radio Times

• “Speaking to Variety around the release of “Paddington in Peru,” producer Alison said director Wilson was chosen partly because he was “Paddingtonian” and embodied all the positive values of the bear.” — Rosie Alison, Producer

Variety Magazine

• “We’re thinking about the next movies.” — Anna Marsh, Studiocanal CEO

Radio Times

• “world-renowned comedy writers” — Variety

Variety Magazine

• “If not, hard stares all round.” — Variety

Variety Magazine

• “Will the duffel coated bear even try his paw at politics?” — FilmStories commentary

Armando Iannucci and Simon Blackwell to pen Paddington 4

The writing team is now attached, and negotiations with Wilson continue. StudioCanal has indicated that development is underway, but no release window or plot synopsis has been disclosed. Additional spin-off projects have been mentioned in earlier reports, though no further updates have emerged.

Deadline Hollywood