STUDIOCANAL, Nickelodeon and award-winning producer David Heyman announced a global deal for a brand-new Paddington (working title) television series for preschoolers in February 2019, as part of Nickelodeon Upfront 2019. Actor Ben Whishaw (Paddington 1 & 2) will reprise his role as the beloved voice of the title character in the new CG-animated series, which follows the adventures of a younger Paddington. Paddington will air on Nickelodeon’s networks worldwide in 2020, while local broadcast partners will be secured in France, Canada, China and Japan.
Nickelodeon's 'Paddington' Launch Plans. Credit: Toy World Magazine.
Fully animated in 3D, the new Paddington series sees a younger Paddington writing to Aunt Lucy from Windsor Gardens. Each episode will open and close with Paddington’s letters as he tells Aunt Lucy what he has learned about life through the day’s new exciting adventure. The series will invite a new generation of fans into Paddington’s world full of heart, kindness, slapstick humour, fun and generosity.
Currently in production, Paddington is a Heyday Films and STUDIOCANAL production in association with Copyrights. Paddington is helmed by Adam Shaw of Blue Zoo (Go Jetters, Digby Dragon, Miffy, Q Pootle 5), and developed for television and written by Jon Foster and James Lamont (The Amazing World of Gumball, Cuckoo, Paddington 1 & 2).
The much-anticipated Paddington television series will be produced by multi- award-winning David Heyman (producer of all eight of the Harry Potter films, Gravity, Paddington 1 & 2), Karen Davidsen (formerly with Disney and HIT Entertainment) and Simon Quinn (Isle of Dogs, Fantastic Mr. Fox). The series is executive produced by Rosie Alison (Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Paddington 1 & 2) and co-produced by Rob Silva.
Executive Producer David Heyman comments: “It is a joy to bring this uniquely life-enhancing bear to a whole new audience of younger children. We are thrilled that the inimitably brilliant Ben Whishaw will continue to voice Paddington. And we are excited to be collaborating with the vibrant and dynamic animation team at Blue Zoo, working from scripts by the wonderfully talented screenwriting team Foster and Lamont. With producers Karen Davidsen and Simon Quinn, we’re all set for a glorious new chapter for Paddington.”
STUDIOCANAL CEO Didier Lupfer adds: "Paddington is such a beloved character for all of us at STUDIOCANAL. We are incredibly happy to be back in his world introducing new generations to his kindness, generosity and spirit. We are inspired by the talented animation team at Blue Zoo partnering once again with our friends at Heyday. Foster and Lamont's writing is so beautifully crafted we can't wait for Nickelodeon and our local broadcast partners to premiere the series."
“We can’t wait to welcome Paddington, one of the world’s most beloved characters, to our global Nickelodeon family with a series that will take him on fun and exciting new adventures, while staying true to his original heartfelt charm and spirit,” said Layla Lewis, Senior Voice President (SVP) Global Acquisitions and Content Partnerships, Nickelodeon.
“I am absolutely delighted to see Paddington back on TV. The series will engage a whole new generation of Paddington-lovers across the world thanks to the bear’s inherent kindness and generosity,” stated Simon Gillham OBE, Chairman of Copyrights.
Director Adam Shaw (Blue Zoo) confirms: “We’re honoured and excited to be working on such an iconic and well-loved character, and Paddington couldn’t be in better hands. It’s what Blue Zoo does best - understanding the character and nuances in the storytelling and successfully translating it into outstanding animation that kids and parents will love.”
The story of Paddington 3 is currently in development with STUDIOCANAL and Heyday.
ABOUT PADDINGTON
For 60 years, British-born writer Michael Bond has delighted children and families all over the world with his stories about Paddington, the bear from Darkest Peru famous for his love of marmalade. Paddington is popular with both children and adults who feel affectionate and warm towards him and the charm and humour of the Paddington stories is the key to their enduring popularity.
Paddington’s adventures have been adapted several times for television (the original Paddington Bear television series previously aired on Nick Jr.) and at the end of 2014 Paddington made his debut onto the big screen. The movie, produced by STUDIOCANAL, part of the international content and media group Vivendi, is the best-selling non-Hollywood family movie ever released. A second Paddington movie, Paddington 2, launched globally at the end of 2017.
In 2016, Vivendi took full ownership of the Paddington brand worldwide, with the exception of the classic publishing rights.
Michael Bond died in June 2017, leaving a legacy of one of the best loved children’s characters in the world. 2018 marked the 60th Anniversary of the first book, A Bear Called Paddington, which was published by William Collins on 13th October 1958.
Follow Paddington on Twitter at @paddingtonbear
Like Paddington’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PaddingtonBear/
About STUDIOCANAL
STUDIOCANAL, a 100% affiliate of CANAL+ Group held by Vivendi, is Europe’s leader in production, distribution and international sales of feature films and TV series, operating directly in all three major European markets - France, the United Kingdom and Germany - as well as in Australia and New Zealand.
STUDIOCANAL owns one of the most important film libraries in the world, boasting more than 5,500 titles from 60 countries. Spanning 100 years of film history, this vast and unique catalogue includes among others the iconic Terminator 2, Rambo, Breathless, Mulholland Drive, The Pianist and Belle de jour.
STUDIOCANAL has fully-financed box office hits Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Paddington 1 and 2, The Commuter and Shaun The Sheep. Upcoming films backed by STUDIOCANAL include Marjane Satrapi’s Radioactive featuring Rosamund Pike, The Secret Garden produced by David Heyman starring Colin Firth, Aardman Studios’ stop-motion film Shaun the Sheep 2.
STUDIOCANAL is actively developing and distributing high-end TV series through its network of award-winning European production companies, including TANDEM in Germany (Take Two) and the UK’s RED Production Company (Years and Years). STUDIOCANAL is also an associate of Danish-based SAM Productions founded by Søren Sveistrup and Adam Price (Ride Upon The Storm) as well as of UK-based GUILTY PARTY PICTURES; Benedict Cumberbatch’s production company SUNNYMARCH TV (Patrick Melrose); URBAN MYTH FILMS (War of the Worlds) and Spain’s BAMBÚ PRODUCCIONES (Instinto). In 2018, STUDIOCANAL launched a new label in France, STUDIOCANAL ORIGINAL.
ABOUT NICKELODEON
Nickelodeon, now in its 40th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).
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Originally published: Friday, April 5, 2019 at 7:59pm BST.
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