In the book, Bridget’s former love interest Mark Darcy, played by Oscar-winner Colin Firth in the earlier films, has died by this point and she starts sleeping with the 30-year-old as she overcomes her bereavement.
Helen Fielding, the British author behind the series, previously said she had decided to write Mark out of the series to avoid Bridget becoming “a smug married”.
Fielding has scripted the new film, suggesting it will closely resemble her book of the same title, which was released in 2013, though the plot may yet diverge.
As well as Woodall, another new face on the cast list is Chiwetel Ejiofor, who starred in 12 Years a Slave.
The new film will be directed by Michael Morris, who previously oversaw To Leslie, the drama starring Andrea Riseborough, who won an Oscar nomination last year.
It marks the first time in the Bridget Jones franchise that a man has been director, as Sharon Maguire directed the first and the third films and Beeban Kidron the second.
It will be Zellweger’s first big screen outing since her leading role as singer and actress Judy Garland in 2019’s Judy, which earned the American a second Academy Award following her first win in 2004 for her supporting role in Cold Mountain.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
