Universal Pictures has announced that Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant are set to reprise their roles in the upcoming fourth installment of the beloved Bridget Jones film series. Fans of the franchise have long adored the cringe-worthy, hilarious, and heartwarming scenes that have made the films a staple in romantic comedy.
However, Hugh Grant has warned that the new film, titled Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, will have a very different tone from its predecessors. Grant, who will once again play the dashing antagonist Daniel Cleaver, revealed that the movie will be both extremely funny and very, very sad.
The plot of the new film follows Bridget Jones in her 50s, as a mother of two children and widowed following the death of her husband Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth in earlier films. Author Helen Fielding, who wrote the latest Bridget Jones novel, has penned the script for the movie.
Grant shared on the Graham Norton show that Fielding drew inspiration from a real-life tragedy to shape the storyline of the film. He explained that Fielding’s personal experience of losing her husband led her to write a novel about a woman raising children alone, which eventually evolved into a Bridget Jones book.
Despite initially feeling that there was no obvious role for his character in the new film, Grant worked with producers to develop a more nuanced portrayal of Daniel Cleaver. He praised the final script as “very good and moving,” highlighting the depth and complexity of the character.
In addition to Zellweger and Grant, Emma Thompson is set to reprise her role as Bridget’s obstetrician in the upcoming film. New faces on the cast list include Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leo Woodall, who is rumored to play Bridget’s younger love interest.
Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is scheduled for release on Valentine’s Day 2025 in the UK, promising to deliver a mix of humor, heartache, and romance that fans of the series have come to love.
