Paddington 4 has been officially confirmed by StudioCanal, but we still don't know exactly when we'll see the lovable bear back on our screens. We do know though that there are "world-renowned comedy writers" working on the script as we speak.
The exciting news was announced in April 2026 and came nearly two years after Françoise Guyonnet – CEO of StudioCanal, kids & family – announced that they are working on a "new TV series and a new movie to come in 2027, '28" which would coincide with Paddington's 70th anniversary.
This was an announcement called "premature" by producer Rosie Alison, but at least we now know Paddington 4 is definitely happening. To mark the exciting news, here's everything you need to know about Paddington 4.
Paddington 4 potential release date: When can we expect Paddington 4?
As mentioned above, Paddington 4 has now been confirmed, but we don't yet have a confirmed release date as of April 2026. However, we know that a new movie is likely aimed to mark the 70th anniversary of the character, so we have a good idea of when to expect it if it does happen.
Paddington Bear made his debut in Michael Bond's A Bear Called Paddington, released October 13, 1958. So a release date around October 2028 seems likely for Paddington 4.
Every other Paddington movie has debuted in UK cinemas in November, so we might have to wait an extra month. As ever, there could be unexpected delays as there was with the third movie, so this is just speculation for now.
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Paddington 4 cast: Who's coming back for Paddington 4?
No cast has been confirmed yet for Paddington 4, but we can make some pretty solid educated guesses as to who will return.
Ben Whishaw will, of course, be voicing Paddington again, and Imelda Staunton will again be voicing Aunt Lucy. We can expect to see all the Brown family again, so that's:
• Hugh Bonneville as Henry Brown
• Emily Mortimer as Mary Brown
• Madeleine Harris as Judy Brown
• Samuel Joslin as Jonathan Brown
• Julie Walters as Mrs Bird
However, Bonneville suggested that he wouldn't be back as he's "getting on a bit", adding: "It's a younger man's job, but you can get other actors in and it will work just as well, because it's all about the bear."
This could lead to a surprise recasting, such as Mortimer taking over from Sally Hawkins as Mrs Brown for the third movie, but we'll have to wait and see.
We didn't see too much of the residents of Windsor Gardens in Paddington in Peru, so hopefully the likes of Ben Miller, Jessica Hynes and Robbie Gee get more to do in the next movie, alongside Jim Broadbent's Samuel Gruber.
After his surprise return in the Paddington 3 credit scene, we hope we'll be seeing Hugh Grant again as Phoenix Buchanan. He tells Paddington he's "shortly to be released", so maybe he'll be up to his old tricks.
We also wouldn't say no to a villain team-up with Nicole Kidman's Millicent Clyde, Olivia Colman's Clarissa Cabot and Antonio Banderas' Hunter Cabot, although Hunter appears redeemed by the end of the third movie.
Paddington 4 plot: What could happen in Paddington 4?
There's nothing that sets up a future movie in Paddington in Peru as this isn't the MCU, so let's just look at where we leave Paddington at the end of the movie.
After discovering that El Dorado – a huge orange grove protected by bears, rather than a place filled with gold – is where he actually came from, Paddington makes the surprise decision to still return to London with the Brown family.
"They are my tribe, but you are my family," he tells them.
Paddington and the Browns return home, but things are changing. Mr Brown has a new job (head of calculated risks), Judy has gone off to university and Jonathan has started his own company (Chill Inc).
As mentioned above, the big potential tease for the fourth movie is that Phoenix Buchanan will likely be out of prison by the time it happens. Maybe the next movie will just be him persuading Paddington to be in his Goldilocks musical?
All we really know is that Paddington 4 will likely make us cry again and think about being better human beings.
Paddington 4 trailer: Any Paddington 4 footage yet?
Sadly not, Paddington 4 hasn't started filming and won't for some time yet. Perhaps we'll get something next year if we're right with our 2028 release date speculation.
Paddington 4 does not yet have a release date.
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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.
