I love the first Bridget Jones film, Bridget Jones’s Diary. It’s a wonderful romantic comedy, brilliantly acted by all involved. Renee Zellweger absolutely deserved the Oscar nomination she got for that film. I tolerate the second film, which is uneven and too stupid and slapstick. The third film, Bridget Jones’s Baby, was a complete mess. No Hugh Grant, a completely nonsensical plot and Patrick Dempsey, who I find to be a charisma vacuum. I also read Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones books, including Mad About the Boy. The story there is (spoiler) that Mark Darcy has died and Bridget is raising their two children as a widow and she’s trying to get back in the dating scene. That too was… not great. But people still believe in this rom-com franchise. Renee Zellweger still believes in this franchise. So we might get a fourth Bridget Jones movie?
Renée Zellweger is thought to be returning to our screens as Bridget Jones for the fourth time – but this time with her son in tow. Bridget Jones last graced our screens six years ago in Bridget Jones’s Baby where film fans saw the character fall unexpectedly pregnant and trying to work out who the father was. It’s been reported that the fourth film is in talks and Renée will be returning as the lovable character.
The Sun reported that the film was ‘secretly’ being worked on along with many of the original cast making their return as well. The next film is rumoured to be co-written by creator Helen Fielding, 64. It’s thought the movie will tell the story of Bridget navigating motherhood with her son William.
A source said: “There have been few more successful or more popular rom-coms than Bridget Jones over the last couple of decades, but everyone thought this one was done for good. However the producers always knew their was a huge market for another sequel when the right story was available, and this feels like the right time to tell it. It will be seven or eight years since the last movie by the time this one hits the big screen, and fans will be desperate to find out what happened. It’s a British classic.”
Production set to begin later this year.
The last film saw Bridget trying to work out if it was lawyer Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth, 61, or if charming new love interest Jack Qwant, portrayed by 56-year-old Patrick Dempsey was the father of her child.
Helen Fielding coming on board as the co-writer gives me a sliver of hope, although… I really don’t know. I wish this franchise had just been handled differently overall. There was definitely room to do a third movie about Mark and Bridget’s wedding planning and, like, their early years of marriage, and I still don’t know why they didn’t do THAT film after the second film. Instead, they waited twelve years and then tried to revive the franchise with the baby film and it was just too stupid. But whatever, women should get dumb franchises too, just like the guys.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
- 156754, Actors Patrick Dempsey, Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth attend the ‘Bridget Jones Baby’ Paris Premiere at Le Grand Rex. Paris, France – Tuesday September 6, 2016. USA, OZ, NZ, SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN AND CHINA ONLY Photograph: © CRYSTAL, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office (PCN): +1 310.822.0419 UK Office (Photoshot): +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE,Image: 532631685, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: CRYSTAL, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
- 156881, Renee Zellweger at Bridget Jones’ Baby photocall at the Hotel Villamagna. Madrid, Spain – Friday September 9, 2016. NORTH AMERICA USE ONLY Photograph: © LOOK Press, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office (PCN): +1 310.822.0419 UK Office (Photoshot): +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE,Image: 533672960, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: LOOK Press, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
- 156881, Patrick Dempsey, Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth at Bridget Jones’ Baby photocall at the Hotel Villamagna. Madrid, Spain – Friday September 9, 2016. NORTH AMERICA USE ONLY Photograph: © LOOK Press, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office (PCN): +1 310.822.0419 UK Office (Photoshot): +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE,Image: 533672973, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: LOOK Press, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
- 156881, Renee Zellweger at Bridget Jones’ Baby photocall at the Hotel Villamagna. Madrid, Spain – Friday September 9, 2016. NORTH AMERICA USE ONLY Photograph: © LOOK Press, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office (PCN): +1 310.822.0419 UK Office (Photoshot): +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE,Image: 533673004, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: LOOK Press, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
- ©ÊDENNIS VAN TINE HUGH GRANT & RENEE ZELLWEGER ATTENDING THE NY PREMIERE OF THE MOVIE “BRIDGET JONES’ DIARY”. ZIEGFELD THEATRE NYC APRIL 2,2001,Image: 549016687, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Dennis Van Tine / Avalon
Le sigh…
Excellent actress. She can deliver if it has at least a good script .
Please save the time. Forecast for this is Unnecessary with 90% chance of suckage. Let’s skip it.
I feel like a terrible fan of the first movie because I had NO idea she had gotten an Oscar nom for it!!! Yes, it was very much deserved. RZ might be one of the few (if not the only) American actors who can do a flawless British accent.
Loved the first movie – I watch it every year just before Christmas (along with Love Actually) Hated the second movie – only watched it the one time. I actually loved the third movie too – I’ve watched it maybe 5 times. I’ll look forward to another one. Given that we know Daniel Cleaver didn’t die afterall, maybe Hugh Grant will return?
I also really liked the 3rd one….of course loved the first which I watch whenever I am having a crappy day….2nd one…we just don’t talk about. I am on board for another…also hoping for a return of Daniel Cleaver!
“But people still believe in this rom-com franchise.”
Gotta disagree on that one. It’s more like “the studios are mining their IP libraries and will beat a 20 yr old horse corpse rather than take a risk on something new.”
I liked the baby movie, but probably only b/c Colin Firth was so hot in it.
I love the original movie. LOVE IT. I watch it every time my husband goes out of town and usually drink champagne while I do so (weird ritual, I know…) Like, I LOVE IT.
I never saw “Bridget Jones Baby” because I never want to acknowledge a universe in which Bridget could cheat on/fall out of love with delicious Mark Darcy (and/or Mark Darcy could do something so terrible that Bridget would cheat on him/fall out of love with him!) I need them to stay together, being charmingly imperfect yet perfect for each other, with no complications beyond Bridge forgetting that tonight was Mark’s firm’s big gala and deciding to have Jules and Shazzer round for drinks and getting squiffy before attending, with ensuing hijinks. Or Mark patiently enduring Mrs. Jones prattling on at the Turkey Curry Buffet and “inadvertently” disclosing that Mark bought a holiday villa for Bridget for her upcoming birthday, therefore ruining the surprise. Anyway.
I have expectations. These characters remain firmly where they were at the end of BJD in my mind. I will not see this unasked for sequel. The studio does not care. And now I think I am going to re-watch tonight while my husband catches up on West World. 😂
Bridget Jones Diary book was so good, so funny and it felt like a miracle that the move was just as good and just as funny. Anytime I hear ‘It’s Raining Men’ I cannot hold back a huge grin.
Here’s hoping this one is good.
She looks so much more like herself now. Good for her. She is an EXCELLENT actress.
Are those even real people on the cover?
Please, no more.
Loved the first; loathed the second; liked the third. I probably won’t see this in a cinema but I’ll watch it when it streams. Renee Z is really good as Bridget. I’d watch Colin Firth read a dictionary.