It looks like Renée Zellweger has squeezed a trip back to London in her busy diary, to reprise her role as the quirky, awkward, yet loveable Bridget Jones. The American actress was quick to be spotted by eagle-eyed fans filming scenes on the streets of the British capital, for the fourth film in the series: Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.
Fans of this Quintessential British comedy have been waiting a long time for this news, the last film: Bridget Jones’ Baby was released in 2016 and followed the life of Bridget as she navigated her confusing journey to motherhood. With the father of the baby being unknown, Bridget set out on a hilarious mission to find out whether Mark Darcy played by Colin Firth (AKA the awkward lawyer), or The Mathematician Jack Quant (Patrick Dempsey) was the father of the baby.
The new film is going to be loosely based on the 2013 book by Helen Fielding. The book is set four years after the death of Jones’ husband, Mark Darcy. Mad About The Boy follows Jones as she grapples with life as a single parent to her Children William and Mabel. Bridget Jones must take on the challenges of modern dating and social media as a (bad outdated phrase approaching) middle-aged woman. The film will also feature Bridget Jones dating a much younger man.
The Sun reported: “Bridget is going to be a real cougar in the new film.”
This much younger man in question is no other than 27-year-old, Leo Woodall. Woodall captured the hearts of viewers in the Netflix series One Day which saw him take on the role of college graduate Dexter Mayhew. The actor is also well known for his role as Jack, in White Lotus.
Hugh Grant is confirmed to reprise his role in the Comedy series, as Bridget’s ex, Daniel Cleaver. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight the Golden Globe winner said that the new script for the fourth instalment is “one of the best scripts I’ve read for a long time”.
Other cast members returning to dish out the contents of Bridget’s diary include Emma Thompson as Dr Rawlings, Sally Phillips as Jones’ best friend ‘Shazzer’ and also Jones’ mother Gemma Jones.
Wedding Crashers Isla Philips and 12 Years a Slave’s Chiwetel Ejiofor are also set to join the cast.
It is still unknown if the gracious Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth) will make an appearance in the film. Fielding decided to kill off the beloved human rights lawyer in a landmine accident, in the fourth novel, leaving Bridget a widow. Unless Darcy will make a miraculous return like Cleaver after being reported dead following a plane crash, it seems unlikely we will see the return of the man who nearly gave Bridget her happy ever after.
It will be interesting to see how our clumsy protagonist will fare in the world of online dating and situationships. Will she strike up a conversation with Leo Woodall’s young and handsome character on Bumble, or will she accidentally swipe right on her bold and flirtatious ex, Cleaver, after one too many glasses of rosé.
The U.S. release date for the fourth and final installment of the tetralogy is the 14th of February 2025 (how fitting), however, the Irish release date is still unknown. I guess we will just have to re-watch the first three films and enjoy a hearty bowl of blue soup whilst we wait.
Words by Olivia O’Dwyer
