Renée Zellweger, the beloved star of the Bridget Jones series, is holding out
hope that Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy isn’t the final chapter for the
iconic character. Despite being billed as the fourth and potentially last film
in the franchise, Zellweger admits she’s “in denial” about saying goodbye to
Bridget, a character she’s portrayed for over two decades.
At the film’s London premiere in Leicester Square, Zellweger shared her
emotional connection to the role, calling Bridget an “old friend.” She joked,
“Let me live in denial for a little longer,” adding that it hasn’t sunk in yet
that this might be the end.
The new film sees Bridget navigating life as a widow, a single mother, and a
modern dater, with a story partially inspired by author Helen Fielding’s own
experiences of loss and resilience after the death of her husband, Kevin
Curran, in 2016. Zellweger praised the film as “a beautiful story and really
the most personal for Helen,” highlighting its themes of grief, healing, and
finding new joy.
While there are no current plans to continue the franchise, Fielding hasn’t
ruled out the possibility of more Bridget Jones adventures. The film
introduces new love interests, including One Day’s Leo Woodall as Bridget’s
younger Tinder match and Chiwetel Ejiofor as a reserved teacher she meets
during the school run. Hugh Grant also reprises his role as the roguish Daniel
Cleaver, offering a slightly softer side to his infamous character.
Woodall, who felt “a lot of pressure” joining the franchise, described
Zellweger as “joyous, generous, and kind,” making the experience “relatively
easy.” Ejiofor, known for his intense roles in films like 12 Years a Slave,
found the project a refreshing change, calling the set “warm” and the
storytelling “exciting.”
Fielding reflected on the enduring appeal of Bridget Jones, attributing its
success to its emotional honesty. “When I first wrote Bridget, I thought it
would be stopped after six weeks for being too silly,” she said. “But that
freed me up to be honest in a way I could never have been otherwise.” She also
expressed delight at how Gen Z has embraced Bridget, seeing parallels in their
emotional vulnerability and shared rituals.
As for the long-standing rumor that Mark Darcy was inspired by Keir Starmer,
Fielding remained coy, only noting the resemblance between early photos of
Colin Firth in the role and Starmer in a barrister’s wig.
With Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy set to hit UK cinemas on Valentine’s
Day, fans can enjoy this heartfelt new chapter—and, like Zellweger, keep their
fingers crossed for more Bridget adventures in the future. As Fielding wisely
put it, “Never say never.”
