By Gavin Boyle
Paddington Bear is reaching audiences in a new way this November as he takes to London’s West End this November for a musical.
“We are delighted that this brilliant team will be bringing Paddington to the West End stage with us,” said Anna Marsh, the CEO of StudioCanal, per Variety. “Their collective gift in bringing ‘Paddington The Musical’ to life with such heart, humor, wonder, and vivid imagination has been a privilege to witness and we simply cannot wait for audiences to discover the magic of this production. We are constantly thinking of innovative ways to continue Paddington’s journey while honoring Michael Bond’s legacy and his invitation to ‘please look after this bear.’”
The musical was developed by Sonia Friedman productions, StudioCanal and Eliza Lumley Productions as an adaptation of Paddington’s beloved story. Tom Fletcher wrote original music for the production, with the script written by Jessica Swale. Luke Sheppard is set to direct.
“It is a privilege to be creating a new musical about this gorgeous and beloved little bear with such a wonderful team,” Friedman Productions and Lumley Productions said in a joint statement. “The magic of Paddington is that, through his wide-eyed innocence, he sees the best in humanity, reminding us that love and kindness can triumph if we open our hearts and minds to one another.”
Related: Paddington to Make Stage Musical Debut in 2025
With the upcoming release of “Paddington The Musical,” 2025 has shaped up to be a busy year for the bear after his third movie, PADDINGTON IN PERU, released worldwide on Feb. 14. The movie, which follows Paddington on an adventure through the Amazon rainforest, brought the total gross of the franchise over $700 million. Staying true to the books, the movies focus on friendship, family and goodness above all else. A portion of Movieguide®’s review of PADDINGTON 3 reads:
PADDINGTON IN PERU takes moviegoers on a wonderful, delightful comedy adventure. It has plenty of laughs, as well as several heartfelt moments. The genuine love between Paddington and the Browns is a good example of God’s biblical plan for family. PADDINGTON IN PERU reveals that family is the real treasure, more precious than gold. It also has multiple Christian references promoting faith. However, PADDINGTON IN PERU has many perilous situations, and one villain is haunted by visions of his greedy dead ancestors. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises some caution for younger children.
While there is yet to be news about the plot of “Paddington The Musical,” if production is honest about honoring Michael Bond’s legacy, it should also feature these family-friendly lessons.
Read Next: PADDINGTON IN PERU Makes Its Mark at Domestic Box Office
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