Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson have joined the cast of ‘Paddington 2’.
The ‘Notting Hill’ star and the Emmy Award-winning Irish actor have been added to the sequel to the 2014 children’s film about Peruvian stowaway Paddington Bear, a character created English author Michael Bond.
The pair join the returning cast of Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin who will all reprise their roles from the first movie.
Ben Whishaw will once again provide the voice of the marmalade-loving bear with Imelda Staunton bringing his Aunt Lucy to life on the big screen.
Shooting on the project has already begun with Paul King returning to direct. King has also co-written the script with Simon Farnaby.
This time, the plot will see Paddington happily settled with the Brown family in Windsor Gardens and determined to buy the perfect gift for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop.
Before Paddington gets the chance to purchase the book from money he has raised from odd jobs the tome is stolen and the plucky bear and the Browns must find the thief.
Grant, 56, is to play Phoenix Buchanan, a famous actor who lives in Windsor Gardens but whose star is waning.
Gleeson, 61, portrays Knuckles McGinty, a notorious safe-cracker and legendary strongman who becomes friends with Paddington.
‘Paddington’ grossed $270 million worldwide and is the highest-grossing non-American family movie of all-time. A third film has already been confirmed.
Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson join Paddington 2
