Paddington, the beloved bear with a penchant for marmalade sandwiches, is heading to the stage to star in a musical adaptation of Michael Bond's bestselling books.
As reported by Deadline, Paddington is stepping out from deepest, darkest Peru to make his musical theater debut under the bright lights of a stage show, which is targeting a 2025 UK premiere date, with additional details (such as storyline, casting and staging plans) to follow as development moves further along.
Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley, who are developing the new musical through their respective companies in collaboration with StudioCanal, said it is "a privilege" to create a stage show about the "gorgeous and beloved little bear" alongside McFly band member Tom Fletcher, who has signed on to write the music and lyrics.
"The magic of Paddington is that, through his wide-eyed innocence, he sees the very best in humanity, reminding us that love and kindness can triumph if we open our hearts and minds to one another," the duo explained. "We cannot wait to bring Paddington, his antics, adventures, and mishaps with the Brown family, and Michael Bond's other treasured characters to the stage. We hope to inspire audiences of all ages with fun, beauty, joy, and all that Paddington stands for."
Paddington will have very little time to paws for celebratory elevenses, as the world-famous Peruvian bear is also due to return to the big screen for a third cinematic adventure, aptly titled Paddington in Peru, arriving in UK cinemas next year before opening stateside in 2025 during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X @AdeleAnkers.