Twenty-three years may have passed since Daniel Cleaver became the Mr Wrong in Bridget Jones’s life, but the pair continue to have sizzling chemistry as Hugh Grant reunites with Renée Zellweger on the screen.
And by the looks of it there could be a twist on the cards. Could Grant finally be playing Mr Right?
While filming the fourth instalment in the iconic Bridget Jones movie franchise in London’s upmarket enclave
The Vale of Health on July 4, the stars easily fell back into their much-loved characters as they gazed adoringly into each other’s eyes and shared a hug and smooch out in the street.
Keeping true to Daniel’s caddish nature, Grant, 63, looked like the very definition of a mid-life crisis, filming with several of the buttons on his shirt undone, before driving off in a red vintage convertible Mercedes with the roof down.
Hugh Grant on returning to Bridget Jones
Grant was a no-show in 2016’s Bridget Jones’s Baby.
“I decided not to do it,” he told Free Radio ahead of filming. “But I think they’re going to go ahead and do it without Daniel.”
Indeed they did, killing his character off in a plane crash with the leading lady attending Daniel’s funeral in the first few minutes.
However, the door was always left open for Grant’s return after a mysterious newspaper story shown during the closing credits alluded that the publishing lothario may have faked his own death after he was found alive.
“There was no way they couldn’t get Hugh for Bridget’s final outing,” a source told The Mail on Sunday. “Daniel has been such a huge part of her life and although he literally has no chance with her now it is only right he should be included.”
Daniel will be one of three love interests for Bridget, who is back on the market following the tragic death of her husband Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). Also vying for her heart are new characters played by Leo Woodall and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Aussie actress Isla Fisher is also a newcomer to the cast, playing a fellow single mum who befriends Bridget at their children’s school.
Despite the sadness for fans in seeing Bridget’s happy ending from the third film being picked apart, where she finally tied the knot and started a family with Mark, Grant says that the new offering will have something for everyone.
“It’s based on trying to bring up two children alone, and then all mixed up in the Bridget Jones comedy, so it’s very sad, as well as very funny,” the star revealed to Entertainment Tonight. “It has me in tears.”
While Grant has previously said he believes his rom-com days are behind him, the quality of the new movie,which is due in cinemas next Valentine’s Day convinced him he had to sign up for one last hurrah.
“I’ll tell you what, I think this script for the fourth Bridget is the best one of the four,” Grant said. “And, in fact, one of the best scripts I have read for in a long time.”
The Bridget Jones Trilogy is currently available to stream on Binge, Stan and Paramount+. You can also catch up on all your spoilers by reading Helen Fielding’s books, which you can find here.
