Latest news with #ABearCalledPaddington
Forbes
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Family Hit ‘Paddington In Peru' Gets Netflix Streaming Premiere Date
Partial poster for "Paddington in Peru." Paddington in Peru— the hit third installment of the Paddington movie series — is coming soon to Netflix. Paddington in Peru was released in theaters on Feb. 14 and pivoted to digital streaming on April 1. The summary for the movie reads, 'Paddington in Peru follows Paddington Bear (voice of Ben Wishaw) and the Brown family as they visit Aunt Lucy (voice of Imelda Staunton) in Peru. A thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and to the mountain peaks of Peru.' Rated PG, Paddington in Peru also stars Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Antonio Banderas, Olivia Colman, Julie Walters, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin and Jim Broadbent. Netflix announced Thursday that Paddington in Peru will debut on the streaming service on Thursday, May 15. You must be a Netflix subscriber to watch Paddington in Peru on the streaming platform. Netflix offers an ad-based package for $7.99 per month for viewing on two supported devices, an ad-free package for $17.99 per month for two supported devices. Additionally, Netflix has an ad-free package for $24.99 per month for four supported devices with 4K Ultra HD programming. Paddington Bear is the creation of British author Michael Bond, whose first book in the series — A Bear Called Paddington — was released in 1958. The first movie based on the books, simply called Paddington, came out in 2014, while Paddington 2 was released in 2017. Ben Whishaw, who played Q in Daniel Craig's last three James Bond movies, voiced Paddington for the third time in Paddington in Peru. However, since the last Paddington film was released in 2017, Whishaw admitted in a November 2024 interview with Metro that there was a bit of trepidation when it came to finding the famed bear's voice again. 'It always takes a bit of time to find the voice again, even though the voice is really just my voice. It's such a hard – I don't really even understand!' Whishaw explained to Metro. 'I guess a lot of it's to do with making the voice fit with the animation, and, God, weird things like just knowing exactly where he is in the room or in space, or how far away the other person is.' As such, Whishaw told the publication, returning to the voice role is like a 'trial and error' situation, 'but I always feel like my first few – two, three, four – sessions are all just discarded because they don't work at all! But then eventually we get back into the swing.' While in theaters, Paddington in Peru took in $45.7 million domestically and $146.4 million internationally for a worldwide box office gross of $192.1 $75.3 million production budget before prints and advertising costs, per The Numbers. Paddington in Peru was also a big hit with Rotten Tomatoes critics, who collectively gave the film a 93% 'fresh' rating based on 182 reviews. Audiences gave Paddington in Peru a 91% 'fresh' score on RT's Popcornmeter based on 1,000-plus verified user ratings. Directed by Dougal Wilson, Paddington in Peru arrives on Netflix on May 15.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Fletcher felt 'unbelievably honoured' writing songs for Paddington the Musical
McFly star Tom Fletcher has described his work on Paddington the Musical as an "unbelievable honour". On Thursday, it was announced that the stage musical adaptation of Michael Bond's first Paddington book will open in London's Savoy Theatre on 1 November. To celebrate the news, Fletcher posted an Instagram video in which he opened up about writing the production's music and lyrics. "Now, for the last few years of my life, I've had the unbelievable honour of writing the music and lyrics for Paddington the Musical, which, if you couldn't tell by the smile on my face, I still can't believe I get to say those words out loud," he said. "I'm so excited that the news is finally out that Paddington the Musical is coming to London's Savoy Theatre this autumn. The iconic Savoy Theatre. Honestly, I couldn't imagine a better home for Paddington the Musical." He added, "Honestly, getting to be part of the team that bring Paddington to life on the stage is the biggest honour and I cannot wait for you all to see actual Paddington step out onto the West End stage this autumn." The Strictly star also shared a snippet of one of his songs, a ballad which features the lyrics, "London, are you listening? London, are you there? London, please look after this bear." Fletcher told BBC News that the musical numbers are his "favourite songs I've ever written" and that he wrote one of the tunes the night he signed up for the job in 2020. Paddington the Musical is based on Bond's 1958 Paddington book, A Bear Called Paddington, and follows the beloved marmalade-loving character as he arrives in London from Peru. The story was previously turned into the 2014 film Paddington, which spawned the sequels Paddington 2 and Paddington in Peru. The musical, which was first announced in late 2023, was written by Jessica Swale and directed by Luke Sheppard. Tickets will go on general sale on 15 May.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'We'll do Paddington proud' - Tom Fletcher reveals details of musical
McFly star Tom Fletcher has said he felt "overwhelming excitement" working on the new Paddington stage musical, which producers have confirmed will open in November. The singer-songwriter said he hoped the music and lyrics he has written for the show would "do Paddington proud", adding that the musical numbers are "my favourite songs I've ever written". The show will open at the Savoy Theatre in the West End on 1 November, and follow Paddington as he arrives from Peru seeking a new home in London. The musical, which has been in development for five years, is based on Michael Bond's original novels and follows the hugely successful recent film series. Speaking about the show for the first time, Fletcher told BBC News he felt "so honoured and lucky" to be working on the project, which he said would reflect "all of the fun, warmth and heart that the books and movies have captured so brilliantly". "There is something so magical about seeing Paddington step out on to the stage, and seeing him... I was about to say in the flesh, but I guess in the fur is more accurate," he joked. Fletcher is best-known as the founding member of pop band McFly, whose hits include All About You, Obviously and Star Girl, and is also a successful children's author. He was first approached about Paddington around the time of the first Covid lockdown in early 2020, and workshopped the project with scriptwriter Jessica Swale, director Luke Sheppard and the producers before the show was formally announced in 2023. With the musical now almost ready to launch, Swale told BBC News it would feature "lots of juicy new material". "We're bringing a lot of new flavours to the table, but of course we're all in love with the original material, so we've been faithful to our cast of characters," she said. "Of course the Browns are part of it, and familiar faces like Mr Gruber and Mr Curry, but there are a lot of new people as well. We've been very inspired by the books and the films but we like to think we're covering new territory." Bond's first book in the series, A Bear Called Paddington, was published in 1958. The author went on to write 29 Paddington books in total, the final one being Paddington at St Paul's, which was published posthumously in 2018. The stories have sold more than 35 million copies worldwide. Fletcher said he relished the opportunity to find what "the musical language" of Paddington was. "Having something that everybody knows but no-one's heard what it sounds like yet is a really exciting thing to be able to work on," he explained. He recalled that, when producer Eliza Lumley first called him about the project, he not only immediately replied with "a very fast 'yes please'", but began writing music for the show right away. "While I was still on the phone to her, I had the idea for a song, so I went and wrote my first song for it that night, instantly after getting off the phone, and that song is still in the musical now." He reflected: "My instant reaction wasn't to be intimidated, it was to be excited and just so inspired by these stories and films that I already knew, I just jumped straight at my piano and started writing." The three film adaptations of Paddington, featuring the voice of Ben Whishaw, have been a huge success at the box office since the first was released in 2014. In recent years, London has seen pop group Abba represented by virtual avatars on stage, while some animated film characters have been depicted using more traditional puppeteering methods, such as snowman Olaf in the stage adaptation of Frozen. It has not yet been revealed what approach producers will take to representing Paddington in the theatre. "I don't know what you're talking about, he's a bear!" joked Swale. "He's travelling from Peru to be a special part of our show!" She continued: "I can't give away our secrets. One of the things I'm most excited about for this show is the character of Paddington." Swale credits producers Lumley and Sonia Friedman for "really experimenting with every possible way that we could tell the bear's story in the best way, and the magic that they've found in how they do it', adding: 'Every single time I see Paddington for the first time, it makes me cry. "I think he's completely magic, and to me he's very real. But I don't think audiences will be disappointed. It's a wonderful, theatrical version of how to tell this story." As for the character himself, Swale noted the musical "also reveals the spirit and the politics of Paddington". "For example, Paddington is a refugee, so we want to honour the fact that he is somebody who migrates to the UK and doesn't have a home, and make sure we are conscious of the experience of who he represents." Between now and the show's opening in November, Fletcher said the team would be "fine-tuning for as long as we can, and making sure that we get it absolutely right". He added: "I really hope that I've done everyone who loves Paddington justice... This is so different to anything I've ever done before. I feel like this show is so ready to be out in the world, it's the most special thing I've ever been a part of in my whole life." The 39-year-old will be on tour with McFly and Busted when the musical opens in November, "so I'll be going from touring with the band and then rushing back to London to fit it all in", he explained. "It's a slightly hectic schedule, but we'll make it work somehow. I might get confused and start singing Paddington songs on stage with McFly." Most important, of course, is the question of whether or not Paddington's favourite food will feature in the stage adaptation. "You can rest easy," laughed Swale. "Marmalade features not only in the book and the lyrics, but physically on stage in a spectacular way." Paddington stage musical in development for 2025 Crowds cheer as repaired Paddington Bear returns Paddington firm lists in UK to protect British bear
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Paddington musical: McFly's Tom Fletcher reveals details of new stage show
McFly star Tom Fletcher has said he felt "overwhelming excitement" working on the new Paddington stage musical, which producers have confirmed will open in November. The singer-songwriter said he hoped the music and lyrics he has written for the show would "do Paddington proud", adding that the musical numbers are "my favourite songs I've ever written".The show will open at the Savoy Theatre in the West End on 1 November, and follow Paddington as he arrives from Peru seeking a new home in musical, which has been in development for five years, is based on Michael Bond's original novels and follows the hugely successful recent film series. Speaking about the show for the first time, Fletcher told BBC News he felt "so honoured and lucky" to be working on the project, which he said would reflect "all of the fun, warmth and heart that the books and movies have captured so brilliantly"."There is something so magical about seeing Paddington step out on to the stage, and seeing him... I was about to say in the flesh, but I guess in the fur is more accurate," he joked. Fletcher is best-known as the founding member of pop band McFly, whose hits include All About You, Obviously and Star Girl, and is also a successful children's was first approached about Paddington around the time of the first Covid lockdown in early 2020, and workshopped the project with scriptwriter Jessica Swale, director Luke Sheppard and the producers before the show was formally announced in the musical now almost ready to launch, Swale told BBC News it would feature "lots of juicy new material"."We're bringing a lot of new flavours to the table, but of course we're all in love with the original material, so we've been faithful to our cast of characters," she said."Of course the Browns are part of it, and familiar faces like Mr Gruber and Mr Curry, but there are a lot of new people as well. We've been very inspired by the books and the films but we like to think we're covering new territory." Bond's first book in the series, A Bear Called Paddington, was published in author went on to write 29 Paddington books in total, the final one being Paddington at St Paul's, which was published posthumously in 2018. The stories have sold more than 35 million copies said he relished the opportunity to find what "the musical language" of Paddington was. "Having something that everybody knows but no-one's heard what it sounds like yet is a really exciting thing to be able to work on," he explained. He recalled that, when producer Eliza Lumley first called him about the project, he not only immediately replied with "a very fast 'yes please'", but began writing music for the show right away."While I was still on the phone to her, I had the idea for a song, so I went and wrote my first song for it that night, instantly after getting off the phone, and that song is still in the musical now."He reflected: "My instant reaction wasn't to be intimidated, it was to be excited and just so inspired by these stories and films that I already knew, I just jumped straight at my piano and started writing." The three film adaptations of Paddington, featuring the voice of Ben Whishaw, have been a huge success at the box office since the first was released in 2014. In recent years, London has seen pop group Abba represented by virtual avatars on stage, while some animated film characters have been depicted using more traditional puppeteering methods, such as snowman Olaf in the stage adaptation of has not yet been revealed what approach producers will take to representing Paddington in the theatre."I don't know what you're talking about, he's a bear!" joked Swale. "He's travelling from Peru to be a special part of our show!"She continued: "I can't give away our secrets. One of the things I'm most excited about for this show is the character of Paddington." 'The politics of Paddington' Swale credits producers Lumley and Sonia Friedman for "really experimenting with every possible way that we could tell the bear's story in the best way, and the magic that they've found in how they do it', adding: 'Every single time I see Paddington for the first time, it makes me cry."I think he's completely magic, and to me he's very real. But I don't think audiences will be disappointed. It's a wonderful, theatrical version of how to tell this story."As for the character himself, Swale noted the musical "also reveals the spirit and the politics of Paddington". "For example, Paddington is a refugee, so we want to honour the fact that he is somebody who migrates to the UK and doesn't have a home, and make sure we are conscious of the experience of who he represents." Between now and the show's opening in November, Fletcher said the team would be "fine-tuning for as long as we can, and making sure that we get it absolutely right".He added: "I really hope that I've done everyone who loves Paddington justice... This is so different to anything I've ever done before. I feel like this show is so ready to be out in the world, it's the most special thing I've ever been a part of in my whole life."The 39-year-old will be on tour with McFly and Busted when the musical opens in November, "so I'll be going from touring with the band and then rushing back to London to fit it all in", he explained."It's a slightly hectic schedule, but we'll make it work somehow. I might get confused and start singing Paddington songs on stage with McFly."Most important, of course, is the question of whether or not Paddington's favourite food will feature in the stage adaptation."You can rest easy," laughed Swale. "Marmalade features not only in the book and the lyrics, but physically on stage in a spectacular way."
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
UK judge slams Paddington Bear statue vandals
Two vandals who broke a statue of Paddington Bear in half were the "antithesis" of everything the affable character from British storybooks stands for, a UK judge sentencing the pair said on Tuesday. Royal Air Force engineers Daniel Heath and William Lawrence, both 22, set upon the statue in Newbury, southern England after a night out drinking on March 2. CCTV footage shows the pair struggling to prize it from a bench, before splitting the hollow sculpture in two and carting half away. They took the fragment back to their air force base in a taxi, and it was later found in Lawrence's car. Judge Sam Goozee condemned the "act of wanton vandalism" at Reading Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, sentencing the pair to 12-month community orders after they admitted causing criminal damage. "Paddington Bear is a beloved cultural icon with children and adults alike," Goozee said. "He represents kindness, tolerance and promotes integration and acceptance in our society. "His famous label attached to his duffle coat says 'Please look after this bear'. "On the night of March 2, 2025, your actions were the antithesis of everything Paddington stands for." The vandals were ordered to pay £2,725 ($3,530) each towards repairs, and told to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work "as payback to the community", the judge said. The statue was one of 23 along a Paddington-themed walking trail across the UK and Ireland. Newbury was the hometown of Paddington's creator Michael Bond, which added to the statue's importance for the town, the court heard. The friendly but accident-prone bear from Peru has long been popular in Britain following the publication of Bond's "A Bear Called Paddington" in 1958. The character gained popularity further afield after the blockbuster success of the 2014 "Paddington" film. In the books, the impeccably polite stowaway turns up at Paddington station with a battered suitcase containing a jar of marmalade, and the label on his blue duffle coat asking people to take care of him. lcm/jkb/sbk
