Bridget Jones’s Baby won’t be released until September 16, 2016, but it’s never too early to hype the latest installment from a much-beloved franchise, right? If we’re being honest, the first film is the best, possibly one of the top-five rom-coms of all time. The second film, Bridget Jones & the Edge of Reason, is garbage. The third installment has Bridget knocked up, and she doesn’t know if the baby is Mark Darcy’s or Patrick Dempsey’s (Jack’s). Dempsey plays a millionaire who falls for Bridget, etc. Daniel Cleaver/Hugh Grant is apparently not in the movie whatsoever. Entertainment Weekly did a photoshoot with Dempsey, Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth, which you can see here. They also sat down for exclusive interviews. Some highlights:
Zellweger on Bridget’s new life: “This is part of the new challenge, discovering where she is now in her new life. But as an actress, it feels like stepping back with an old friend. I love this character, I like that she tells stories about what it’s like to be a woman and these really relatable situations at certain times in life. It’s so right to tell a story about Bridget in this stage of her life. She’s a bit more mature and has moved on, as we all have.”
Colin Firth on the characters: “Mark didn’t think Daniel was better than him. This guy Jack seems to be more of the charming good guy, and in some ways that’s scarier. He’s a very different kind of rival. He’s not somebody I’ve known since we were kids. He’s an outsider and he threatens Mark Darcy in a very, very different way than Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) did… There are various mysteries to be resolved. Who does she end up with? Whose baby is it? You can resolve one and make the other a question. Those are things which might not be revealed until very later on. I rather like it. It’s not often you have something where you have the possibility of keeping a surprise.”
Renee on the reports of her new face: “All I know is that people were sending support, which means I must have needed it. I know it sounds pretty unlikely that a person might be able to keep herself clear of those words or of that experience, but I have and it takes effort.”
You know what I love? It would be so easy for Colin Firth to phone it in, to disrespect the Bridget Jones series as silly, woman-centric, shameful entries in his esteemed filmography, but he never does. I’ve always gotten the impression that Colin loves doing the Bridget films, that he respects the characters and the audiences for these films. And that makes him even hotter. And honestly… what woman in their right mind would choose Dempsey over Firth? For the love of God.
Here are some photos from the London set in November. Colin Firth/Mark Darcy in those glasses. DING DONG.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
I hope this lives up to the first film, my fav rom-com of all time. I am surprised how fast Dempsey bounced back from Grey’s Anatomy.
Although, Grey’s has been a sinking ship for a while now in terms of storylines.
I don’t think this means he’ll pull it off. Just that he has something.
Mabe I just have a person bias against him, but his acting tends to be horrible imo.
Renee, never touch the eyes! Always touch the Firth!
Seriously though, when it comes to plastic surgery, leave your eyes alone (unless medically imperative). Come ON!
I watch BJD every time it comes on TV. Every. Time.
It’s on Netflix!
It’s just so strange how strange she looks. I can’t pinpoint what is different, but she simply looks like a different person. Not aged, just different. What a foolish mistake her plastic surgery was, but what a great and useful cautionary tale for the rest of us. Wrinkles are better than becoming a different person, especially if you are loved “just the way you are”.
I think Colin Firth is fantastic and deserves all the money in the world. However there is no way this movie will be any good. We have Bridget not being sure who the father of her child will be, which means she cheated on her supposed soul mate Mark Darcy. And a quick paternity test can tell her the father’s identity. Unless this movie happens over a 7 day period in the time it takes to get the test results, this is going to be a ridiculous film betraying the original characters we loved so much in the first movie.
Dempsey and Zellwegger are smiling on the cover because they can’t do any better right now. Firth definitely can.
No, it could be a slip up with a gyno visit like Jane the Virgin.
I’m thinking there will be many goofs along the way. I don’t like the thought she’d cheat on Darcy. It ruins everything.
And if they try to repeat the boy fight scenes Hugh and Colin did so perfectly I’ll be cringing. I know they will though.
My guess is that is Darcy’s and that they will end up together by the end of the film
Obviously the baby is Hugh Grant’s.
Somebody call Maury!
I mean, he does manage to impregnate women at the drop of a hat. This would be baby #5 in 5 years.
How could it not be? Everyone he touches gets pregnant, apparently.
Even at his age… I just watched about a boy again… yup he’s still an attrative man. Personality though… idk.
Or possibly Jude Laws. Both of them seem to possess a willy that behaves like an unruly puppy.
I would watch that movie!
There’s always one! 😀
OMG! It’s Beethoven’s baby. That’s even alliterative!
You are killing me today, Sixer. 🇬🇧
Beethoven’s Baby – Snort 😀
I think there is going to be revolutionary shift from rom-com to horror for the franchise and the baby is Rosemary’s.
I would also watch this movie!!!
Lol Sixer. That twist is the only reason you could get me to watch this movie.
I would hate-watch it for Colin if there was nothing else on. Even if the baby was Rosemary’s!
LMAO. I would watch the sh*t out that movie.
nah, they would still manage to make it rom-com horror movie. It could be fun.
Lol.
MY baby is Hugh Grant’s.
I like the characters of Mark and Bridget but I hate who’s the daddy storylines. Renee is in her mid-forties and Colin is in his mid-fifties. I don’t want them treated like senior citizens, but I feel like this plot is stupid at their ages. They can be sexual, silly, etc. as middle-aged people.
Having said that, I wouldn’t mind another It’s Raining Men brawl in the streets.
Best movie fight ever. Well, except for the one in The Quiet Man.
I never watched QM in its entirety until recently. Great movie!
The Quiet One’s a little harder on my feminist soul. It’s kind of Taming of the Shrew.
Have you seen McClintock? It mirrors The Quiet Man in that John Wayne manhandles Maureen O’Hara to out her in her place as his wife.
OMG. I loved that fight!
The fight! That fight was everything, her dressed up as a bunny, running down the street in her underwear…I miss that Bridget so hopefully they don’t screw up with this movie.
Should have read below. It won’t be as good! I doubt they can top Raining Men/ I doubt it will even top Edge of Reason’s I Believe In A Thing Called Love.
Merry Christmas Mr. Darcy! Did someone turn up the heat?
Somthing about a “Darcy” character with Firth’s good looks…
And Edge of Reason wasn’t terrible! It was just no where near as good as it should have been. Even FMORC enjoyed it in sections.
I was flying to London from Vancouver last Thursday, and got upgraded to first class. Colin Firth was in the seat in front of me! I nearly died. Spent the entire flight thinking “I’m on the plane with Mr. Darcy!!” No one bothered him but he seemed lovely, he was very polite to the cabin crew and great with his son.
It’s good to hear he was nice and polite. He seems like that type person.
May I trade places with you in your memory?
Haha sure Pinky!
I dated Marc Maron briefly (pre-WTF days), and he interviewed Colin Firth and did not invite me to meet him. I should have known it was doomed. Well, if the bitter standup about his two ex-wives didn’t clue me in.
S
No man should stand between you an meeting Mr. Darcy.
KaitX
I’d die too =D
When I heard they were making this film, I tried reading the third book. I got to chapter 2 and stopped. The movie is clearly taking a lighter funner approach so this wont be a spoiler. In the book, she and Mark had a great marriage until he up and died, and Bridget has been in mourning for four years. Has all the makings of a great romcom doesnt it? Thats all you want really, for your heroines soul mate to die leaving her with two young children. Who doesnt love a little real life macabre in their light reading?
I never read it, but could not believe the writer killed off such a beloved comedy in what is supposed to be light fiction. A little bit of a betrayal to the readers. Angst and pain when you read Russian, fine, but a light-hearted romp?
I actually prefer that over Bridget not knowing her child’s paternity. How is Mark her soul mate when she’s seeing other men?
Agreed. I think that a film based on Bridget finding new love could have been really sweet and endearing without crapping on the Bridget and Mark 4EVA love story. Plus, choosing anyone over Colin Firth? I cannot suspend my disbelief.
You don’t kill off Mr. Darcy! The movie imo became more about him than Bridget!
*crosses arms/huffs*
exactly! This makes no sense!
I did read the third book, in the middle of the night nursing my first baby. Call it hormones but I cried a lot reading it.
I agree with Hawkeye. They could have stayed with the original story line then do a cut to 4 years later card & we see Bridget try to navigate online dating but finding love again.
There was also a continuation back when it was still columns, and she had a questionable maternity storyline. She had broken up with Darcy and then had a one night stand with Cleaver. It ended up being Cleaver’s, but they didn’t get together as a couple.she didn’t end up with Darcy either, which was sad because he offered regardless of paternity.
Maybe in this one it’s the same situation, but hopefully she’ll end up with Darcy anyway.
100% agree with you on Colin genuinely enjoying being a part of the movies! He’s wonderful.
He is absolutely lovely. I am pretty sure I’ve bragged about this on every Colin firth thread ever, but I met him when I accidentally on-purpose crashed a set. He was so kind and just super dreamy. I embarrassed myself but it was worth it to reaffirm him as my forever crush.
Is he as tall and nice-smelling in real life as in my dreams?
@Hawkeye I surprisingly didn’t sniff him, although I wanted to. He is very tall and thin as a rail. They had aged him for that movie about the Memphis three, but he was still a fox. His hand was big and warm when he shook mine. He didn’t act bothered or rushed, even though my creepy brother in law was being kind of a jerk. *sigh*
@Senaber, I wish I had a Lisa Frank binder in which to doodle the name Colin Firth with hearts around it!
Haha @hawkeye I would let you borrow mine, but it’s full. I’m a Colin firth fangirl forever!
Never mind to KaitX, may I trade places with you in YOUR memory?
Yes please, Pinky. Maybe you could’ve come up with something better to say than “urmffffff washi washi hahahahabahahab” 😫
Senaber, I think you did the best you could under those conditions. At least you didn’t faint and injure yourself!
Not very crazy about a paternity plotline. Kind of ick.
Agreed. Gross and a bit age-inappropriate.
I think she’s rather old to reprise the role. Bridget was a dreamer with her life in front of her. That damn surgery destroyed Renee’s looks. I just don’t understand why they do it or don’t do their homework on who is going to alter their face for the rest of their life. Colin can only add to the mix, he’s hot and can act and actually let the gray hair grow in. I think when people allow themselves to age in the normal scheme of things, they are the winners.
I agree. Sometimes lines, wrinkles, greys, etc. definitely make us feel our age, but how does warping your face at all help? She still looks like a woman in her 40’s but now her character is gone. AND SHE STILL HAS HOODED EYES SO WHAT WAS THE POINT? There is nothing wrong with hooded eyelids and it was part of who she was. She still has hooded eyes but something is so off, she doesn’t look like herself. And don’t even get me started on Uma Therman. She’s been laying low ever since her awful surgery and that odd make-up disaster. She was a beautiful woman. Who cares if she was getting crows feet or laugh lines? She’s still going to get them and now she just looks odd. I don’t get it. Sometimes I wonder if they do it simply because it’s expected in their circle – like a status symbol or social statement regardless of whether not it makes you look better.
I think another thing that makes her face look so different is that she used to do pretty bold brows and now she’s let them go natural. Perhaps because she doesn’t want to draw anymore attention to her eyes?
The thing that jerked me out of the Star Wars movie was how obvious it was that Carrie Fisher’s face doesn’t move. Especially her upper lip.
JJ. 100. Her eyes were what people talked about, good or bad, it was her trademark. I think it’s totally insecurity. Courtney Cox I think was looking for the fountain of youth. Jennifer Grey wanted to subtly change her nose and it ruined her career. It’s rather sad when you think about it. Moderation or subtle changes if they must is the only choice they can make without changing their entire identity and being ridiculed and pitied, neither of which I think they were aiming for.
It’s entirely possible that her eye surgery was not cosmetic; her eyelids may have begun to obstruct her vision. I know of several people IRL who’ve had to get the same surgery or that reason.
Dempsey makes me vomit.
Lol, that was brief and to the point.
He used to look like a God and sound like a Gerbil, now he just looks and sounds Rodenty at the same time.
Perhaps he’s reverting to his teenage self.
You said it better than I could.
I’m anxious about it. Loved the first one, loathed the second, just like everyone else. I don’t know if this is a good idea or not.
The first one is sooo good! The scene when Mark comes over and ends up helping Bridget cooking her birthday dinner, followed by that delicious dinner, is everything! Makes me smile like a silly school girl every time.
Silly Bridget…. 😉
Colin Firth is so handsome!
I weirdly ship Bridget/Mark and I never ship anyone. Just thankful there’s going to be a movie so dead!Mark won’t be the sole canon anymore.
I never understood people who preferred Daniel over Mark much less people who preferred Hugh over Colin. What?!
Totally incomprehensible in both the fantasy and real worlds…I mean Hugh Grant, yuckity yuck, yuck.
I love Colin, don’t get me wrong but Hugh was at his hottest in the first film. A smarmy, greasy, smug hot, but hot just the same.
Though I l loved the original, this is a big shrug for me…not a fan of Dempsey at all, and Colin has real acting chops…why continue to be typed as the not-good-enough schlemiel…
the “Whose the Daddy” plot line makes me not want to see this. I was never a HUGH BJD fan; I really liked the first one. The second one not as much. Just because it was obvious that Renee and the writers were trying to recreate the feel of her freshness from the first and it was too try hard. Too over the top. This plot seems very Low Rent and Reality TV driven. Just as someone above said; Just do an episode of the Maury P Show and be done.. Maury can say.. “YOU ARE the father” or YOU ARE NOT the father”.
ICK a 40 something woman finding herself in this position. NO
I’ve never realized how much Renée looks like Ellen Pompeo LOL !
A friend of mine spotted Hugh Grant on set dressed in character so I’m keeping my hopes alive that it’s his baby!!
I’m sorry, did the interviewer ask her questions about her face work in front of her co-coworkers? This is just stupid and tiresome, stop humiliating women like that. I don’t care about the work she’s done to her face and nobody else should either.
so instead of the cherub face (she had that face until she flubbed it) british rose…. she’ll look like a hagged trailer park defunct mom names Bethany Crystal Ann… while colin firth looks awesome and aged like a intense pot of earl grey strong ass tea and patrick dempsey looks like a wall street hedge fund manager/heir ceo type….
oooo reneeee 🙁
Well, can I chose both of them? They’re so hot, damn.
Nah, no interest in seeing this with that story line.
In my opinion, a Bridget Jones movie without Daniel Cleaver in it just doesn’t have the same appeal. I looked forward to those fights between Mark and Daniel. Not interested at all in a triangle involving Patrick Dempsey.
I hope there is a lot of Jim Broadbent (Bridget’s dad) in this movie, because he was the funniest thing in the first two movies, next to Daniel.