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Longtime costars Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant reunited at the premiere of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, more than two decades after the first instalment of the film series was released.
Fans had been eagerly waiting for the fourth film since it was announced last year, when it was confirmed that Zellweger would be reprising her role as the titular and perpetually single Bridget Jones and Hugh Grant would be returning as Daniel Cleaver.
It was also announced that Leo Woodall and Chiwetel Ejiofor would appear in the film.
The first movie in the series, Bridget Jonesâs Diary, was released in 2001. It was based on the 1996 book of the same name by The Independent columnistHelen Fielding. The book not only sold 15 million copies, it also gave birth to a British icon.
Sequels Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and Bridget Jonesâs Baby followed in 2004 and 2016, with the three films together grossing over $760m worldwide.
At the premiere, Zellweger wore a black one-shoulder lace dress from Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello while Grant kept it simple in a black suit and white button-up shirt, almost identical to the look he wore to the first premiere.
According to an official synopsis, the new film, based on Fieldingâs 2013 book, will see Bridget Jones navigate âlife as a widow and single mom with the help of her family, friends, and former lover Daniel. Back to work and on the apps, sheâs pursued by a younger man and maybe â just maybe â her sonâs science teacherâ.
Fans of Colin Firthâs Mark Darcy have reason to be upset as he briefly appeared in the trailer, which explained that with his death, he now only existed only in Jonesâs memories.
Grant, who didnât appear in The Edge of Reason, described the script as being âgood and movingâ in an appearance on The Graham Norton Show but added that he was âcrammed inâ despite there being âno obvious roleâ for him.
Recently, Zellweger opened up on her reason for going on an acting hiatus from 2010 to 2016, saying the work felt like a âregurgitation of the same emotional experiencesâ.
âI was sick of the sound of my own voice,â she told British Vogue. âWhen I was working, I was like, âOh, my gosh, listen to you. Are you sad again, Renée? Oh, is this your mad voice?â It was a regurgitation of the same emotional experiences.â
But she kept busy during her break. âI wrote music and studied international law. I built a house, rescued a pair of older doggies, created a partnership that led to a production company, advocated for and fundraised with a sick friend, and spent a lot of time with family and godchildren and driving across the country with the dogs,â she explained. âI got healthy.â
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy will be released in cinemas internationally on 12 February 2025 and will be available to stream on Peacock in the US beginning 13 February 2025.
