By The first two “Paddington” films are family film masterpieces that also boast a number of wild and varied cinematic influences.
Scenes from the first pay homage to works as diverse as “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” “Easy Rider,” and “The Thick of It”; whilst the second boasts tributes to “The Producers,” Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times,” and the original UK “House of Cards” mini-series.
The upcoming third film’s director, Douglas Wilson, has revealed that the new Amazonian setting of much of this new entry will offer some direct influences – namely Werner Herzog’s Peruvian jungle-set films, including 1972’s “Aguirre, The Wrath Of God” and 1982’s “Fitzcarraldo”.
Speaking with Empire during early interviews for “Paddington in Peru,” Wilson discussed portraying the iconic South American country and its people:
“Peru has this incredible variety of landscapes, crazy geology, especially the Andes and the mysterious Incan side. If you’ve seen [Werner Herzog’s] Aguirre, The Wrath Of God, we go up into similar landscapes. And the people are incredibly friendly.
Obviously there are mopeds and mobile phones and all that, but they do still seem to wear traditional-looking clothes in the rural Andes. So I tried to show some Peruvian culture; a Peruvian legend underlies our whole story.”
As the trade points out, the film features singing nuns so some “The Sound Of Music” and “Black Narcissus” references are also likely.
The story brings the marmalade-loving bear to Peru as he returns to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown Family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey through the rainforest and to the mountain peaks of the country.
Ben Whishaw is back as the voice of Paddington alongside Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin and Carlo Tous. Emily Mortimer takes over the role of Mrs. Brown.
Jim Broadbent, Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas also star whilst Imelda Staunton will voice Aunt Lucy. “Paddington In Peru” will first hit the UK on November 8th and unroll over several months before arriving in U.S. cinemas in January.
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