Paddington in Peru finally arrives in UK cinemas next week, and fans will know that Mrs Brown has had a change on-screen.
Emily Mortimer has taken over the role after Sally Hawkins – who played the character in the previous two movies – decided to not reprise the role for the third movie.
Following the announcement, Hawkins called Mortimer "extraordinarily special" and her co-star Hugh Bonneville later praised Mortimer's performance. "Emily just seemed like a perfect fit," he explained.
It was actually Bonneville who suggested Mortimer for the Mrs Brown role, and now Mortimer has addressed taking over the role for Paddington 3. "It was so flattering," she told The Telegraph.
Related: Paddington 3 confirmed as the longest Paddington movie
"It was a nerve-racking proposition in lots of ways, because it was stepping into this world and character and everything. It felt like a big responsibility. But on the other hand, to say no – not just to Hugh, but to Paddington – would be so churlish. It's thrilling. An honour."
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She added: "You can't say no to Paddington. If he turned malevolent, he could really do some damage. He's a leader of men. You can't turn him down."
Mortimer had previously worked with Paddington as she starred with Ben Whishaw in Mary Poppins Returns with the two playing Michael and Jane Banks.
The nature of Paddington movies means she didn't directly work with Whishaw here, but he praised Mortimer's work in taking on the daunting task.
Related: All you need to know about Paddington 3
"I adore Emily. I think it's hard to replace Sally Hawkins, who is extraordinary, and that Emily had the courage to do that and then to make the role so much her own is testament to who she is as a person and an actor," Whishaw noted.
"She's such an amazing comedian and can find warmth and wit in the tiniest moment or phrase or look. I suppose all you can do as actors is try to bring yourself to it sincerely and truthfully and Emily just does that."
We can expect to see Mortimer back as Mrs Brown after Paddington in Peru as it's already been confirmed that Paddington 4 is in development for the 70th anniversary of the character.
Paddington in Peru is released in UK cinemas on November 8 and in US cinemas on January 17, 2025.
Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
