Hugh Bonneville, a star on the international hit Downton Abbey, is reportedly in talks to star as the human lead in Paddington Bear, a film adaptation of the beloved children’s books.
The Wrap first reported the news. The project is being produced by Studiocanal, which wouldn’t comment, and Heydey Films’ David Heyman, the man who co-produced the Harry Potter series at Warner Bros. Jeffrey Clifford is co-producing and The Mighty Boosh’s Paul King was recruited to direct. Hamish McColl (Mr. Bean’s Holiday) wrote the script.
Paddington Bear was created by Michael Bond in 1958. The film is being set up as a live action/animation hybrid like Yogi Bear or The Smurfs.
As The Huffington Post notes, the project was first announced in May.
“Paddington Bear is a universally loved character, treasured for his optimism, his sense of fair play and his perfect manners — and of course for his unintentional talent for comic chaos,” Heyman told Variety. “Michael Bond’s books offer such wit and wonder, and I am so delighted at this chance to bring Paddington to the big screen.”
The Wrap’s sources say that former House star Hugh Laurie is the favorite for Paddington's voice, but negotiations haven’t started.
Heyday co-produced Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity with George Clooney. Bonneville is also working with Clooney on The Monuments Men.
Bonneville plays Robert Crawley on Downton Abbey.
image: Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures/image.net