Britain's most beloved fictional bear, "Paddington," is set to hit the stage in 2025, according to a report by Playbill. The announcement coincides with the 65th anniversary of Michael Bond's original 1958 work "A Bear Called Paddington."
The titular marmalade-loving character will star in a musical featuring songs written by Tom Fletcher, a member of the famed English pop band "McFly, and a book by Jessica Swale, who wrote and directed "Summerland."
In a joint statement, producers Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley shared their excitement about the development of the would-be musical about a certain "gorgeous and beloved little bear." For them, "Paddington" best represents the concepts of "wide-eyed innocence" and hope for humanity's ability to be "kind" and to "love."
"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," they added. "We hope to inspire audiences of all ages with fun, beauty, joy, and all that Paddington stands for."
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History of Other 'Paddington' Works
Starting with Bond's legacy book, "Paddington" would go on to be adapted into several other productions, with the latest being the musical that is currently in the works. Succeeding the 1958 book, however, is a BBC television series that started in 1976 and ended in 1980, comprising over 56 episodes and 3 specials.
Consequent projects of the IP include the 2014 film "Paddington," and its 2017 sequel, "Paddington 2." Both of these movies are responsible for the modern renown that the beloved bear character has, with the former being nominated for a BAFTA award.
In 2019, another TV series featuring the titular bear was made, dubbed "The Adventures of Paddington." The production company behind the newer series and the set of films is StudioCanal, with the collaboration of Heyday Films solely for the movies. To add, StudioCanal will also be involved in the stage musical project, working alongside Friedman and Lumley.
An official timeline detailing the formal production dates has yet to be released
