Nearly 70 years have passed since its release: Who would have thought in 1958 that a lovable bear in London would capture the hearts of movie audiences in the 2010s and 2020s? The first book by Michael Bond was published in 1958, the first film adaptation, Paddington, became a box office hit in 2014, and just three years later, its nearly perfect sequel, Paddington 2, was hailed as one of the greatest films ever made.
With Paddington in Peru, the long-awaited third installment is set to release on January 30, 2025. This time, the beloved bear embarks on a journey from his new home in London back to his old home in Peru, where his dear Aunt Lucy is acting strangely. On this grand adventure, Paddington is accompanied by the Brown family—and, of course, a few orange marmalade sandwiches. You can get a first glimpse in the trailer:
We had the rare opportunity to sit down with director Dougal Wilson and producer Rosie Alison during the post-production phase at the VFX studio Framestore in London. Wilson takes over from director Paul King, who helmed the first two films but later moved on to direct the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory prequel, Wonka. For the production team led by Rosie Alison, the question of a suitable replacement was practically a no-brainer.
Rosie Alison: “Our first thought was Dougal Wilson.”
She describes him as having a “whimsical, handcrafted quality that we love.” Though Wilson has been in the industry for over 20 years, he had never directed a feature film before. However, his extensive experience in commercials and music videos—including projects for Coldplay—made him a strong candidate. His skills in directing, storyboarding, and editing were not the only factors; Wilson also deeply understood the essence of the main character.
Rosie Alison: “Dougal has a very strong inner Paddington.”
“The Expectations Are Very High—And That Scares Me”: “Paddington in Peru” Director on His Biggest Challenge
When asked how he reacted to this unique opportunity, Wilson remained clear-eyed:
Dougal Wilson: “It’s a pretty tricky challenge. I had no illusions that it would be easy. But at the same time, I knew I probably couldn’t turn it down.”
The immense popularity of Paddington 2 is evident in its near-perfect 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. For Wilson, the question wasn’t whether he could handle the pressure—he openly admits:
Dougal Wilson: “The expectations are very high, and that scares me.”
“I Broke the Film Down Into Its Individual Parts”: Dougal Wilson’s Approach to the Challenge
But how does one tackle such a task when the longest previous projects have been around five minutes, and now he has to shape 100 minutes of footage into a cohesive whole? For Wilson, the key was to demystify the process.
Dougal Wilson: “I broke the film down into its individual parts and tried to bring the same attention to detail that Paul King had with the first two films. […] I take the script and create a rough storyboard. I tend to look at things very holistically. I believe the style and feel of Paddington are visually tied to the story, characters, and tone. It has a very fairy-tale-like quality. So when I plan a scene, I try to sketch it out, but I also visualize it using references.”
The director also provided insights into footage not intended for the outside world. In rough demos, production assistants stand in for the actors in these early recordings to determine the choreography steps, camera positions, and lighting conditions before the first day of filming.
Dougal Wilson: “If it involves a lot of movement, music, or an action sequence, I try to literally film it before we actually shoot it.”
In one “demo,” choreographer Jenn White—who was also instrumental in the success of Barbie—demonstrates the choreography that, in the final film, is performed by Olivia Colman.
Dougal Wilson: “This is how we planned it, and I show it to the entire crew, and everyone says: ‘Yes, this is terrible, but when we actually do it, it will, of course, be much better.'”
From Mother Superior to Pilot – Olivia Colman Shows a Whole New Side in Paddington in Peru
How much life the scene gains from the ensemble is exemplified by the performance of Oscar-winner Olivia Colman. She plays the Mother Superior at the retirement home for bears in Peru. While she is the catalyst for Paddington’s grand adventure, she had much more to prove on set:
Dougal Wilson: “We sent Olivia Colman the script, and she couldn’t wait to play the Mother Superior—she even started learning guitar. […] She had to do all sorts of things: She had to be matriarchal. She had to fly a plane. She had to sing a song, do things that are unexpected—I won’t spoil anything, but she also has an unexpected side.”
But Olivia Colman isn’t the only high-profile newcomer in Paddington in Peru. The new antagonist is played by Antonio Banderas, who, like Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant in the previous films, brings a unique twist to his role:
Dougal Wilson: “Antonio Banderas plays a very, very funny character. He’s not just playing himself. We were inspired by the classic Ealing comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets, in which Sir Alec Guinness plays multiple members of the same family. That’s exactly what Antonio does in this film—he plays himself, but also his ancestors from different generations and nationalities, and he loved that. He had to dress up as a priest, an American frontier explorer from the Wild West, an Edwardian colonial researcher, and even a Swedish aviator. He really embraced this adventurous character, who is a ship captain with a hidden past that unfortunately leads him down a dark path—one that Paddington must help him find his way back from.”
Rosie Alison: “He was an absolute joy to have around, so warm to everyone and completely dedicated to the role. He truly believed in the values of Paddington and was incredibly eager to be part of the film.”
Innocent, Kind, Polite – Paddington’s Magic Comes Not Only from the Character but Also from His Creators
No Paddington film would be complete without its star—the bear himself. The magic of Paddington is the result of many factors, and the love for the character reads like a heartfelt tribute:
Dougal Wilson: “Paddington’s personality is something we all admire. We can relate to his flaws because they are so innocent. We’ve all had moments when things didn’t go as planned, and we had to make the best of them. But the most important thing we all admire about him is his worldview and the timeless idea that if we are kind and polite, the world will be a better place—and I think that’s a beautiful thought.
I mean, in today’s world, that’s not always the case, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if it were? Paddington always sees the best in people. I think we all wish we could be that person or meet someone like him. But sometimes, life gets in the way, and Paddington reminds us that this is a truly wonderful way to approach life. I believe that is the heart and soul of Paddington.”
In the German dubbed version, Elyas M’Barek returns for the third time as the voice of Paddington, having already achieved great success with films like Fack Ju Göhte. In the Ukrainian version, for instance, families will hear none other than the current president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, lending his voice to the beloved bear.
Although the director and production team are not directly involved with dubbing around the world, one actor has played a crucial role throughout the production—not only as Paddington’s English voice but also by providing key facial expressions for the bear: Ben Whishaw.
Dougal Wilson: “He’s the actor I spend the most time with because we do a lot of voice sessions. We start with an initial reading with Ben, where we go through the entire film, and we use that as a basis for editing. Sometimes, we don’t have anything—just a stick moving around in the frame. But when we add Ben’s voice, everything becomes much clearer, and you can feel Paddington in the room because Ben instinctively knows how Paddington would say things.”
“Not Motion Capture, but Reference” – How Ben Whishaw Helps Bring Paddington to Life
The vital role of dialogue in the preparatory work for VFX artists becomes especially clear here:
Dougal Wilson: “You really have to make sure you get the right take for the animation because that’s what the VFX team needs to animate. That’s the first thing they really want from you—the perfect dialogue. When we record with Ben Whishaw, we also mount a camera on a hat on his head. It’s not motion capture, but a reference for the animators. We film his entire body and how he reacts while delivering his lines. This is an incredibly useful reference. He is an essential part of the character. He often gives us ideas we wouldn’t have thought of if we hadn’t seen him perform live.”
Not only Ben Whishaw but also the VFX team, led by Pablo Grillo, plays a crucial role in making Paddington come alive on screen.
Dougal Wilson: “Ben Whishaw and Pablo Grillo are the soul of Paddington. Pablo handles the actual animation and contributes so much. He also has a very Paddington-esque personality.”
A Long Journey to the Big Screen
The time it took to bring Paddington in Peru to life is evident in the production timeline. A first draft of the script was prepared as early as 2018. After further refinements, filming finally began in 2022. While a small guerrilla crew captured landscape footage in Colombia and Peru, principal photography primarily took place in the UK. Only after filming wrapped did the extensive work at Framestore begin.
Approximately 120 artists worked daily on the project, animating pre-visualization (Pre-Vis) and eventually the finished film. Now, after years of effort, Paddington in Peru has finally arrived in theaters. The film is now playing nationwide and has been rated suitable for all ages by the FSK.
