According to reports, the fourth film in the Bridget Jones franchise could face a two-year delay due to the ongoing US cast strike.
Renée Zellweger, 54, is set to return to her famous role as the adorable bachelorette girl for a fourth film in the popular franchise last year.
However, according to The Sun, the actress only has a small window to shoot the film and time is quickly running out with production being delayed by the strike.
A source told the publication, “It’s a movie bosses nightmare.” It took forever to convince everyone about Bridget Jones 4 and now it’s in jeopardy with the strike.
“Renée is one of the biggest names in Hollywood and has already signed on for several films over the years to come.
Oh no! According to reports, the fourth film in the Bridget Jones franchise could face a two-year delay due to the ongoing US cast strike
Exciting: Renée Zellweger, 54, is set to return to her famous role as the adorable bachelorette girl for a fourth film in the popular series last year
“She had a tight window to shoot Bridget and the hit meant she could miss completely.”
The 2001 films, based on the best-selling ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’, have grossed nearly £1 billion at the box office.
They were popular because they chronicled the struggles of excessive and chain-smoking Bridget as she struggled to find love in her thirties.
The last film, Bridget Jones’ Baby, was released seven years ago. In it, Bridget was pregnant and trying to find out who the father was.
It turned out that lawyer Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth, was the father and not charming new lover Jack Qwant, played by Patrick Dempsey.
Hugh Grant’s seedy character Daniel Cleaver didn’t appear, but the door is wide open for his return in the new film, as a headline at the end of the final installment revealed that he was found alive a year after his supposed death.
Author Helen Fielding confirmed last October that she was working on the fourth film, saying it will be based on her 2013 book, Mad About the Boy.
Helen said, “Yes, I’m working on it and I really hope it will happen.” Every film that is made is a miracle – it’s really difficult to make films and do them well. But I’d like to see it on screen.’
Success: The 2001 films, based on the best-selling ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’, have grossed nearly £1 billion at the box office
Latest Deal: The last movie, Bridget Jones’ Baby, came out seven years ago and saw Bridget pregnant trying to figure out who the father was
Renée opened up about the possibility of reprising the role on The Jess Cagle Show on SiriusXM last year.
She said, “I hope so.” I hope so. I mean it’s fun, you know, she’s so much fun. I love being in their place.
“I mean, it makes me laugh, you know, every day on set the decisions we can make about how awkward we can make their circumstances.” It’s just so much fun.’
Explaining why Bridget is so popular with audiences, the actress explained, “I find her so endearing…her self-deprecating brand of determination.”
‘I love her. And I think it’s really rare that you can follow a character through different stages of his life.
“And in a way that we find sympathetic because it parallels our own life experiences at the time.’ I mean, Helen wrote another book, so there it is.’
The SAG-AFTRA strike, which began July 14, is the latest of the ongoing labor disputes in Hollywood that has resulted in most film sets being shut down.
The action has brought the industry to a virtual standstill, many film and television productions have been halted and it is the first time in more than 60 years that both actors and writers have gone on strike.
Comeback: Renée opened up about the possibility of reprising the role on The Jess Cagle Show on SiriusXM last year
The WGA strike, in which writers crossed the picket lines, has been going on since early May.
Due to the strike rules, all SAG-AFTRA members are unable to shoot a movie or TV series – meaning almost every show and movie currently in the works will be indefinitely postponed until the issue is resolved.
UK trade union Equity, SAG-AFTRA’s sister organisation, said in a statement it was “in full swing”. [sic] behind its US counterpart.
On July 21, dozens of actors and artists gathered in London’s Leicester Square to show solidarity with their US counterparts who had walked off the stage in protest at pay and working conditions in the industry.