Paul King

Paul King In Talks To Direct New 'Willy Wonka' Movie

By Daniel Falconer in Movies / TV / Theatre on 13 February 2018

The filmmaker is seeing huge success with his recent release 'Paddington 2'.

'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' is without a doubt one of the most beloved children's stories to come from critically acclaimed author Roald Dahl. Featuring a bunch of eccentric characters, including the owner of the titular factory, Willy Wonka, there have been a couple of big screen adaptations of the novel, but now a prequel is on the way.

Could Paul King bring Wonka back to the big screen?

Warner Bros. announced that they were working on a new Willy Wonka project back in 2016, with the help of 'Harry Potter' producer David Heyman, and with Simon Rich working on a script for the film. Instead of focusing on the story of Wonka when he invites five golden ticket holders to visit his factory, the movie will be looking at the chocolatier's adventures before those events.

Continue reading: Paul King In Talks To Direct New 'Willy Wonka' Movie

Paddington 2 Review

Extraordinary

The first Paddington movie in 2014 is already such a beloved classic that it's hard to believe that this sequel actually tops it. Writer-director Paul King and his cast are back with their whimsical approach, combining silly comedy with surreally deranged touches that bring these people to life in ways that are both hilarious and deeply endearing. And this time, the plot feels more developed and the humour even funnier.

We catch up with Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) as he's now a fixture in his Notting Hill neighbourhood. With his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday approaching, he wants to give her the hand-made pop-up book of London landmarks he discovers in Gruber's (Jim Broadbent) second-hand shop and starts working odd jobs to save up to buy it. What he doesn't know is that a neighbour, washed-up actor Phoenix (Hugh Grant), knows that the book is a map to a hidden treasure. When Phoenix steals it and frames him, Paddington's adoptive family (Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin and Julie Walters) launch a plan to clear his name.

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'Paddington' Adapts A Classic For Today's Kids, But With Nicole Kidman's Evil Touch

By Rich Cline in Movies / TV / Theatre on 28 November 2014

Nicole Kidman Paul King

A beloved tale is brought to life for kids (and grown ups) of today.

After a series of beloved books and cartoons, filmmakers had a big challenge to come up with a big screen version of the story of Paddington bear, combining animation and live-action for a romp akin to the '101 Dalmatians' or 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' movies. And the filmmakers confounded critics by coming up with something that's genuinely charming while adding elements more familiar to today's young audiences.

Paddington poster
Paddington returns in stunning live action

For the film 'Paddington', the main departure from the canon is the addition of a villain in the form of Nicole Kidman's snaky Millicent. She may get to do some 'Mission: Impossible' stunts and Cruella de Vil vamping, but Millicent's chief purpose in the movie is clearly to add some final-act excitement in a story that's otherwise adorable and warmly witty.

Continue reading: 'Paddington' Adapts A Classic For Today's Kids, But With Nicole Kidman's Evil Touch

Paddington Review

By Rich Cline

Excellent

It's difficult not to go into a movie like this with a sense of dread, as the beloved children's book becomes a live-action movie with a digitally animated, eerily realistic-looking bear. Thankfully, the task of filmmaking was given to the inventive Paul King (of Mighty Boosh fame), who made the charmingly surreal 2009 comedy Bunny and the Bull and brings a refreshingly unexpected comical sensibility to liven up this film's family-friendly formula.

It starts in darkest Peru, where a young bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) has been raised by his aunt and uncle (Imelda Staunton and Michael Gambon), who learned about London from a British explorer. Now in need of a new home, the youngster heads across the sea and takes the name of Paddington Station when he meets the Brown family: over-cautious dad (Hugh Bonneville), over-curious mum (Sally Hawkins), sulking teen Judy (Madeleine Harris), inventive pre-teen Jonathan (Samuel Joslin) and feisty relative Mrs Bird (Julie Walters). As they help him find the explorer, he has a series of adventures, unaware that the taxidermist Millicent (Nicole Kidman) is on his trail, determined to add him to the species on exhibition at the Natural History Museum.

This Cruella De Vil-style subplot would be seriously annoying if King ever let it take over the movie, but it always remains secondary to Paddington's mayhem-causing behaviour and his bonding with the Browns. It also provides some genuine tension in a climactic action sequence in the museum. But most of the film is dedicated to Paddington's comically ridiculous antics, and Whishaw voices him with just the right mixture of curiosity and hapless mischief to make him irresistible.

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Paddington - International Trailer

In the jungles of Peru, a young bear learns about and becomes obsessed with Great Britain and sets off on an adventure to visit the county. After an arduous journey, he finally arrives in London's Paddington Station, but realises quite soon that he is both lost and lonely. That is, until the Brown family discover him and adopt him, naming him Paddington, after the place they found him. Paddington (Ben Whishaw) is a great addition to the household, as his antics entertain the children. But said antics often end in destruction within the household, leaving the Brown family in a difficult position. Things become even more difficult when Millicent (Nicole Kidman) sets about trying to capture and stuff Paddington, in order to add him to her exhibition.

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Paddington Bear Makes Debut In Funny New Trailer…Minus His Voice

By Lauren James in Movies / TV / Theatre on 03 July 2014

Colin Firth Nicole Kidman Jim Broadbent Julie Walters Sally Hawkins Hugh Bonneville Paul King

As Colin Firth is replaced as the voice of Paddington Bear, we have a cute and funny new trailer to watch.

Missing the lead actor in your movie four months before its release? No problem! As was evidently thought by director Paul King and the makers of the upcoming children's adaptation, Paddington. A new trailer has been released for the live action movie, which is based on Michael Bond's Paddington Bear creation, whilst neatly side-stepping the absence of a voice for the titular brown bear.

Paddington New Trailer
A New 'Paddington' Trailer Shows The Little Bear Up To No Good In A Bathroom.

Colin Firth had been cast as the voice of Paddington - the only animated character in the movie - but stepped away from the role after it was decided that his tones didn't fit theanimation. "It's been bittersweet to see this delightful creature take shape and come to the sad realisation that he simply doesn't have my voice," the actor explained last month.

Continue reading: Paddington Bear Makes Debut In Funny New Trailer…Minus His Voice

Paddington Trailer

Paddington is a young Peruvian bear who has always held a curiosity for the city of London. After his equally adventurous Aunt Lucy's home is destroyed, she decides to send him off to England after teaching him all about a famous explorer she once knew who lives there. Unfortunately, when Paddington gets to Paddington Station, he has no idea where he is or how to even exit the place. After struggling with the various signs for a long while, he is eventually spotted by the kindly Brown family, who agree to take him in until he can find out the whereabouts Aunt Lucy's explorer friend. However, Paddington's life skills aren't up to scratch and he's about to learn that there's a lot more to life in London than he initially thought. Meanwhile, he is forced to defend his life when his presence is acknowledged by an evil bear taxidermist.

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Noo! Colin Firth Calls Paddington Split "Conscious Uncoupling"

By Lauren James in Movies / TV / Theatre on 18 June 2014

Colin Firth Paul King

The best British pairing since marmalade and bread has ended before it even started.

Colin Firth has announced that he has walked away from the lead voice role in the upcoming kid's movie adaptation, Paddington, after difficulties matching his voice to that of the CGI bear. The 53 year-old English actor had seemed the natural choice when it was revealed that he'd be voicing the iconic Peruvian bear in the Paul King-directed picture. However, it was sadly not to be...

"After a period of denial we've chosen 'conscious uncoupling,'" Firth revealed, referencing the term Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin recently used to describe their divorce. "It's been bittersweet to see this delightful creature take shape and come to the sad realisation that he simply doesn't have my voice," he continued.

"I've had the joy of seeing most of the film and it's going to be quite wonderful. I still feel rather protective of this bear and I'm pestering them all with suggestions for finding a voice worthy of him," via The Telegraph.

Continue reading: Noo! Colin Firth Calls Paddington Split "Conscious Uncoupling"

He's Almost Here! New 'Paddington' Trailer Teases Arrival Of The Marmalade-Loving Bear [Trailer + Pictures]

By Lauren James in Movies / TV / Theatre on 04 March 2014

Colin Firth Nicole Kidman Hugh Bonneville Paul King Sally Hawkins

Colin Firth voices London's favourite bear in the upcoming movie.

A teaser trailer has been released to promote this year's upcoming Paddington movie, based on Michael Bond's much-loved children's books and the animated television shows. The King's Speech's Colin Firth will voice the little brown bear, who everybody knows has a penchant for marmalade sandwiches.

Paddington Bear Film Poster
Upcoming Children's Film 'Paddington' Will Add A Modern Twist To Michael Bond's Much-Loved Children's Classic.

Released this coming November, the Paul King-directed movie will follow the classic tale of the conscientious little bear who arrives in London from Peru feeling frightened and alone at Paddington Station. Luckily, the kind Brown family notice Paddington with his "Please look after this bear" tag and take him in.

Continue reading: He's Almost Here! New 'Paddington' Trailer Teases Arrival Of The Marmalade-Loving Bear [Trailer + Pictures]

Paddington - Teaser Trailer

Paddington is a bear who has lived with his Aunt Lucy in Peru since he was young. She taught him all about an explorer she once knew and shared her dreams of jetting over to England. She decides to send him off on a boat to England after her home is destroyed, but rather than being thrilled at the prospect of being in a country he has yearned to see for so many years, young Paddington is left confused, alone and frightened in the bustling Paddington Station in London. Soon though, he has a stroke of luck when a kind family called the Browns take him in whilst he attempts to track down the explorer he has heard so much about. However, things don't run smoothly for Paddington, who finds himself running for his life from a cruel, money-loving taxidermist with an eye for rare bears.

Continue: Paddington - Teaser Trailer