“‘Invisible’: Stars Unveil the Secret Behind the Heart of the Beloved Paddington Franchise”
IN LONDON
The mysterious figure at the core of Paddington has been revealed by the stars of the beloved film series.
The iconic British bear is returning to theaters next month for the third installment of the franchise, where he and the Brown family embark on a new adventure to Peru in search of his missing Aunt Lucy.
Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas are joining the cast for Paddington in Peru.
As with previous films, Paddington is brought to life through a blend of motion capture, CGI animation, and the voice of actor Ben Whishaw. However, on set during filming, there is another hidden contributor responsible for bringing the bear to life.
Hugh Bonneville, who portrays Mr. Brown (and is also famous for his role as Earl Grantham in Downton Abbey), told news.com.au, “We have [actress] Lauren, who walks through the shots with us and is just as much a part of the family as the rest of us.”
He added that she joins the cast during their scenes, dressed in Paddington’s iconic blue duffle coat and red hat.
Banderas remarked, “I have to tell you… in all three Paddington films, she’s an invisible actor, but she was a tremendous help to me.”
He went on to say, “She played a huge role in shaping the character through her reactions on set, and yet, no one knows her as Paddington.”
She was a huge help in bringing the character to life through her reactions on set. Yet, no one recognizes her as Paddington.”
For Paddington’s newest adventure, British actress Emily Mortimer stepped in to portray a new version of Mrs. Brown, taking over the role from Sally Hawkins, who played her in the first two films.
Taking on a story that has been cherished for over 60 years and loved by millions is an intimidating challenge, and Mortimer certainly felt the pressure of it.
Particularly, as she shared with news.com.au, when it came to stepping into the iconic London home of Paddington at 32 Windsor Gardens in Notting Hill.
I’m truly relieved they didn’t film the scenes at the house until the very end of the shoot for the third film, because I could really feel that moment as I walked through the door,” Mortimer shared.
The house is so iconic, and there are so many memories tied to those films that it felt truly surreal, like ‘Oh my God, I’m stepping into someone else’s shoes’ as I walked through that door.
“I’m really glad we began filming on the boat in Peru, and then gradually worked up to me walking through the front door of the house as the new Mrs. Brown. It could have been intimidating, but thanks to everyone in the cast, it was actually a very sweet experience.
Paddington in Peru will hit Australian cinemas on January 1
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