The Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated duo marks the most prestigious writing hire in the series’ history. Iannucci, the Glasgow-born creator of In the Loop and The Death of Stalin, brings a reputation built on dense, character-driven comedy to a family franchise that depends heavily on its warmth and wit. The finished film is expected to arrive in cinemas in 2028.
Dougal Wilson, the award-winning commercials director who made his feature debut with Paddington in Peru, is also in talks to return, though Studiocanal has not formally confirmed his involvement. Wilson would bring continuity to a project being rebuilt, at least on the page, from scratch.
The fourth feature in the franchise was first teased by Studiocanal CEO Anna Marsh at CinemaCon in April. No plot details have been released. The hire comes after Paddington in Peru — the costliest film in the series at roughly $90 million — earned approximately $211 million worldwide, the franchise’s weakest return. By comparison, Paddington 2, shot on a budget of around $40 million, grossed $290 million, while the original 2014 film brought in $333 million. The combined global box office for the series now exceeds $800 million.
Iannucci and Blackwell previously co-wrote The Personal History of David Copperfield (2020), a warmly reviewed Dickens adaptation that starred Ben Whishaw — the voice of Paddington himself — alongside Dev Patel. That film demonstrated the pair’s ability to handle beloved literary source material with irreverence and heart, a balance the Paddington series has always required.
Blackwell is also known for his work on Peep Show, Back, and Breeders, the latter co-created with Chris Addison and Martin Freeman. His range across British comedy, from the farcical to the quietly human, makes him a credible fit for a property that trades on emotional sincerity as much as laughs.
Some observers have questioned whether the franchise can recover the momentum lost with the third film. One critic noted that the hiring makes Paddington 4 “seem somewhat interesting” after what they called a bad third instalment, though they expressed reservations about Wilson potentially returning to direct.
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Each Paddington film has brought a new writing team. Paul King wrote the first two, later handing off to a group including Mark Burton, Jon Foster and James Lamont for the Peru chapter. Handing the pen to Iannucci and Blackwell signals Studiocanal’s intent to treat the fourth entry as a genuine creative reset.
