Paddington Bear Receives an Authentic British Passport
The charming Paddington Bear, fiction's most famous Peruvian, has been honorably awarded a passport by the British authorities, his adoptive nation's officials. Rob Silva, the co-producer behind the eagerly anticipated film "Paddington in Peru," disclosed this delightful tidbit during an interview with Radio Times magazine on Monday. In the narrative of the third cinematic installment, the lovable bear, voiced by Ben Whishaw, makes a heartfelt journey back to his native Peru to see his Aunt Lucy.
Silva recounted, "We penned a request to the Home Office, inquiring if we might acquire a replica, and to our surprise, they issued Paddington an official passport—uniquely his." He presented the document, complete with Paddington's photograph, to journalist Laura Rutkowski. Silva humorously noted, "It's not typical to associate the Home Office with humor, yet under official observations, they've simply categorized him as Bear."
This cinematic endeavor draws inspiration from the beloved works of the late children's author Michael Bond, who first introduced Paddington Bear in the 1958 classic "A Bear Called Paddington." The story follows the small, orphaned bear's adventures from Peru to London. He is discovered at Paddington Station, sporting a label that reads, "Please look after this bear. Thank you," and is taken in by the Brown family.
The film "Paddington in Peru" chronicles his journey back to see Aunt Lucy, voiced by Imelda Staunton, after receiving his passport. Upon arrival with his companions, the Brown family, they discover Aunt Lucy's mysterious disappearance from the Home for Retired Bears, prompting a quest deep into the Amazon rainforest.
This third chapter in the franchise, following 2014's "Paddington" and 2017's "Paddington 2," is helmed by director Dougal Wilson. He admitted his initial trepidation, saying, "Paddington 2 is regarded as one of the finest films ever. I felt immense fear and anxiety." Wilson acknowledged the daunting task of living up to the success of the previous films and expressed hope that the fans would not be disappointed.
"Paddington in Peru" is set to premiere in the United Kingdom on November 8, with its U.S. release slated for January 17, 2025.
