Bridget Jones 4: Release date, cast, and latest Mad About the Boy news
Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant are set to reprise their beloved roles.
We're now approximately 4 months away from the release of the fourth Bridget Jones film starring Renée Zellweger, which is arriving almost 10 years after the previous instalment.
This new film will reunite Bridget with Hugh Grant's hapless TV producer and rapscallion Daniel Cleaver, and he has recently revealed how his role in the movie came together, when speaking with Vanity Fair.
Grant was notably absent from the third film, Bridget Jones's Baby, and explained that although he wanted to be part of it, he "couldn’t fit my character in - he just didn’t belong, so I stepped aside."
He has now said of the fourth film, titled Mad About the Boy: "I loved the script—it made me cry, and I wanted to help with this one. But really there’s no part for Daniel Cleaver in it at all. They wanted him in it, and in the end, they’d done something I wasn’t crazy about."
Grant explained that he "wrote some scenes" for his character, which the team decided to infuse into the story, at which point he officially signed on.
"It’s absolutely the best [Bridget Jones book], and I think it’s very funny and very, very moving," he said. "I’m not in a lot, I did a week’s work, that’s it... But when you see the film, you’ll be very moved."
Consider us excited. But as fans wait to see Zellweger and Grant reprise their roles, who else from the franchise might appear, and what else do we know about the film so far? Read on for everything you need to know.
When is the Bridget Jones 4 release date?
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy will be released in UK and US cinemas on 14th February 2025.
The US release date was initially announced but the UK release will be the same.
Filming began on 10th May 2024 in the UK and concluded on 8th August 2024.
Author Helen Fielding first revealed she was working on a fourth movie back in 2022 during an interview on the Radio Times View From My Sofa Podcast.
2016 film Bridget Jones's Baby didn't follow her 2013 novel Mad About the Boy, and was instead based on columns Fielding wrote in 2005 and 2006 for The Independent.
Asked whether audiences would see Bridget back on screen in an adaptation of Mad About the Boy, Fielding said: "Yes I'm working on it and I really hope it will happen.
"Every film that gets made is a miracle – it's really difficult to make films happen and to make them good. But I'd love to see it on the screen."
Bridget Jones 4 cast: Who could star in Mad About the Boy?
The following cast members have been confirmed by Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
- Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones
- Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver
- Emma Thompson as Dr Rawlings
- Chiwetel Ejiofor as Mr Wallaker
- Leo Woodall as Roxster
- Jim Broadbent as Colin Jones
- Gemma Jones as Pamela Jones
- Isla Fisher as Rebecca
- Josette Simon as TBC
- Nico Parker as Chloe
- Leila Farzad as Nicolette
- Sarah Solemani as Miranda
- Sally Phillips as Sharon "Shazzer"
- Shirley Henderson as Jude
- James Callis as Tom
- Celia Imrie as Una Alconbury
Renée Zellweger is set to reprise her Oscar-nominated role as Bridget Jones. She last appeared on the big screen in Judy, for which she bagged her second Oscar in 2020 for her portrayal of Judy Garland.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy will also see Hugh Grant reprise his role as bad boy Daniel Cleaver, whilst Dame Emma Thompson will appear once again as Dr Rawlings following her hilarious debut as the character in Bridget Jones's Baby.
We can also expect returns for other recurring characters including Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones as Bridget's parents, plus all of Bridget's best pals.
Meanwhile, newcomers Leo Woodall (One Day) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, Doctor Strange) have joined the cast. Woodall will play the 'Boy' of the title as her sardonic younger love interest Roxster, while Ejiofor plays the headteacher of Bridget's children.
Elsewhere, The Last of Us' Nico Parker plays Bridget's babysitter Chloe and Isla Fisher plays Bridget's new neighbour Rebecca.
Patrick Dempsey is not set to reprise his role as Jack, Bridget's other love interest from Bridget Jones's Baby.
Is Colin Firth set to return as Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones 4?
In the announcement of the film, fans may also have noticed that Colin Firth’s name was missing.
Of course, in the book, we discover that his character Mark Darcy has died tragically in an accident.
However, it's not clear how closely the new film will be following the novel and so fans can still hold out hope for now!
What could happen in Bridget Jones 4?
The latest sequel will be based on Helen Fielding's 2013 book Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, which revolves around the 51-year-old single mother of two children as she navigates dating in a world filled with new technology.
However, it looks like Bridget might be a slightly different kind of role model than we're used to in the new sequel.
Writer Fielding previously said on Desert Island Discs that she was "staggered" by the "sexism" in the original movies, before adding: "You couldn't write that now."
Is there a trailer for Bridget Jones 4?
Not released online currently, however, a teaser video teasing the filming of the film has been shown in cinemas.
We will be quick to update this as soon as it becomes available.
Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
Lewis Knight is the Trends Editor for Radio Times, covering trending titles from TV, Film and more. He previously worked at The Mirror in TV, Film, and Showbiz coverage alongside work on SEO. Alongside his past work in advertising, he possesses a BSc in Psychology and an MA in Film Studies.
