StudioCanal taps Iannucci Blackwell for Paddington 4

StudioCanal has confirmed the hiring of award-winning comedy writers Armando Iannucci and Simon Blackwell to pen the screenplay for a fourth Paddington film. The studio’s CEO, Anna Marsh, first announced the project’s development at the CinemaCon convention in April, stating that “world-renowned comedy writers” were attached.

Iannucci, creator of acclaimed satirical series “Veep” and “The Thick of It,” will collaborate on the script with his longtime writing partner Simon Blackwell. The duo’s previous work together includes the Oscar-nominated film “In the Loop.” According to a report by Variety, award-winning commercials director Dougal Wilson, who made his feature debut directing 2024’s “Paddington in Peru,” is also in talks to return to direct the fourth installment. Rosie Alison will continue as producer for Heyday Films.

The new film will follow the third installment, “Paddington in Peru,” which followed the bear and the Brown family on an adventure to visit his Aunt Lucy. No story details for the fourth movie have been released. The franchise, which began in 2014, has grossed over $800 million globally across its three films. The upcoming project is reportedly being...