Paddington in Peru director Dougal Wilson has revealed that Hugh Grant was responsible for the film's hilarious credit scene.
The third entry in the franchise follows the titular bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) and the Brown family as they journey to South America on a madcap adventure in search of the missing Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton).
While their exploits in Peru took up most of the runtime, there was still time for a cameo as Grant reprised his role as Phoenix Buchanan, who is still behind bars following his nefarious crimes in Paddington 2.
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The credits scene saw Paddington and his fellow El Dorado bears visit Phoenix in prison, where the theatre actor expressed his desire to perform 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' with Paddington's friends and family following his release from prison.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Wilson – who took over directing duties from Paul King – revealed that Grant contributed ideas for the scene, recalling: "He even was involved in the writing of that scene and what he would say to all these bears when they all appeared.
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"Hugh came up with the idea that Phoenix was imminently about to be released. His thoughts immediately turned to the theatre, his natural home, and in front of him is his possible cast for his new production."
"He was very up for it and wrote the idea of the Bears becoming involved in this new production, which I would love to see. It all seemed very appropriate and funny," he added.
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"Phoenix Buchanan being faced not by one bear, but by a whole tribe of them, and how he would react to that and how he would have to try and put up with that because he knows the bears only mean well by visiting him."
Wilson said that they wanted to mirror the scene in Paddington 2 where all the prisoners pop up and Paddington introduces them.
Paddington in Peru is in US cinemas now, and available on-demand in the UK.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
