Third ‘Bridget Jones’ film delayed over script issues, studio executive says it is still on

The third film in the Bridget Jones romantic comedy series has been put on hold thanks to script troubles. However, Working Title Co-Chairman Tim Bevan released a statement saying that the film will still be made.

The Hollywood Reporter first reported that the film, titled Bridget Jones’s Baby, hit production delays Thursday afternoon. Sources claimed that the creative team, especially actor Hugh Grant, has issues with the script, forcing the film to be delayed, despite being scheduled to begin shooting in the next few weeks. An insider told the Reporter that the film, which also stars Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth, is “basically dead.” However, another source did say “the movie will definitely shoot sometime this year."

Grant has been the one star who has voiced the most issues with the script by David Nicholls and author Helen Fielding. It was unclear if Grant had gone as far as refusing to shoot the film or if he was just telling the filmmakers that he did not like the script. The film already hit a creative stumbling block earlier when Bridesmaids director Paul Feig dropped out and Working Title had to hire The Full Monty’s Peter Cattaneo.

Later, Bevan issued a response to the Hollywood Reporter’s story, saying, “Reports that Hugh Grant has exited Bridget Jones’ Baby are untrue.” He did confirm that there was a script delay, though, adding, “We are still working on the script hence the delay to the start of production, but the film is going ahead as planned."

Grant has expressed criticism about the franchise before. According to Entertainment Weekly, back in 2009, he told a reporter that he could not see the series continuing. “I don’t think so, no. I think even Bridget Jones 2 was a mistake to be honest with you...It wasn’t a very good script, and I resisted it for a long time, and so did Colin and so did Renee. But we got kind of conned into doing it,” he said at the time.

In 2001, Bridget Jones’s Diary was a massive critical and financial success, grossing $282 million worldwide. That was followed by Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, which was another financial success, grossing $262 million worldwide, but was critically panned.