Armando Iannucci signs up to write Paddington 4
The hit Paddington franchise is expanding again with acclaimed comedy writers Armando Iannucci and Simon Blackwell joining the creative team.
Paddington Bear is heading back to the big screen for a fourth outing – with Veep creator Armando Iannucci joining the franchise alongside long-time collaborator Simon Blackwell.
The new film, currently titled Paddington 4, follows the global success of Paddington, Paddington 2 and 2024’s Paddington in Peru, which together have grossed more than $800 million at the worldwide box office.
Variety reported on Tuesday (26.05.26) Armando, 62, and Simon, 60, have signed on to write the screenplay for the latest instalment in the Studiocanal franchise, while Dougal Wilson is in talks to return as director after making his feature debut on Paddington in Peru.
The Paddington films, based on the books by late author Michael Bond, have become one of Britain’s most successful modern family franchises, with Ben Whishaw continuing to voice the Peruvian bear alongside Hugh Bonneville and Emily Mortimer.
Variety reported Anna Marsh, Studiocanal CEO and Canal+ chief content officer, confirmed earlier this year at CinemaCon “world-renowned comedy writers” had joined the project.
Armando and Simon are best known for their Emmy-winning political satire work on Veep and The Thick of It, with Armando also helping create Steve Coogan’s iconic Alan Partridge character and directing films including In the Loop and The Death of Stalin.
Simon additionally created sitcoms including Back and Breeders, and previously worked with Armando on The Personal History of David Copperfield, which also starred Ben.
The Paddington franchise has remained a major talking point in British cinema following the release of Paddington in Peru, which marked the first film in the series not directed by Paul King.
Paul directed the first two critically acclaimed films and later found further success with Wonka, starring Timothée Chalamet, which became one of the biggest box office hits of 2023.
Paddington 2 in particular has continued to enjoy near-mythical status among film fans after briefly becoming the highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes.
Rosie Alison, producer of all four films through Heyday Films, first developed the live-action adaptation around two decades ago and remains attached to the latest sequel.
Speaking to Variety during the release of Paddington in Peru, Rosie explained why Dougal had been chosen to direct the third film by calling him a “Paddingtonian” who embodied all the positive values of the bear.
Paddington, voiced by Ben since the first film in 2014, has become known for his “hard stare”, duffel coat and marmalade sandwiches, while the franchise itself has earned acclaim for balancing slapstick comedy with emotional storytelling and distinctly British humour.
The third film saw Paddington return to Peru to visit his Aunt Lucy, voiced by Imelda Staunton, alongside cast members including Antonio Banderas and Olivia Colman.
The series has also featured performances from Hugh Grant, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Sally Hawkins and Madeleine Harris.
While plot details for Paddington 4 remain under wraps, the latest announcement signals another major expansion for the franchise, which has become one of Studiocanal’s flagship global properties and one of the most celebrated British film series of the last decade.
