Paddington, based on Michael Bond’s beloved children’s books, is set to star in a stage musical.
The show is in development with Sonia Friedman Productions, the brains behind the hit stage show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
The script for Paddington: The Musical will be written by Jessica Swale, who has won an Olivier award for the 2013 play Nell Gwynn. Luke Sheppard, whose work on The Little Big Things was nominated for the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Musical, is set to direct the show. McFly’s lead vocalist and guitarist, Tom Fletcher, will create the music and lyrics.
The show is adapted from Bond’s fictional books and movie adaptations, Paddington. It’s about a young and curious Andean bear who “packs up his life into three items: a raincoat, a red hat, and a small suitcase” after losing his home in an earthquake in the Peruvian rainforest.
From there, he travels to England and finds a home with the Brown family after several mishaps and adventures.
Studiocanal and Eliza Lumley Productions are also set to co-produce the musical and have expressed their excitement about working with a wonderful team. In a joint statement, they said: “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 musical is set to premiere in the UK in 2025, and the team hopes to inspire the audience with beauty, joy, and fun, which are attributes that Paddington stands for. If 2025 seems too far ahead, fans can look forward to the upcoming film adaptation, Paddington in Peru, that’s set to release in 2024 to quench their excitement.
Olivia Coleman and Antonio Banderas join the franchise as Reverend Mother and Hunter Cabot as our young bear tries to return to his Aunt Lucy in Peru. Of course, the adaptation won’t be complete without Ben Wishaw returning as the voice of the beloved character, Paddington.
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