Snow White Star Rachel Zegler Officially Exits Paddington 3 - Here's Why
Hold onto your marmalade: "Paddington 3" is getting a major casting shakeup.
Officially titled "Paddington in Peru," the third installment of the beloved film series will see the raincoat-clad bear leaving England for his native South America. Now, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed Rachel Zegler won't be coming on the journey due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which reached 100 days on October 21.
Zegler, who has been cast in the upcoming adaptation of "Snow White," was one of several actors set to join the "Paddington" family. Other new cast members include Olivia Colman as a nun who runs a retirement home for bears in Peru, and Antonio Banderas as Hunter Cabot, a riverboat captain skilled enough to traverse the Amazon. Before her departure, Zegler was set to play Hunter's daughter, Gina. The role instead will go to newcomer Carlo Tous.
Filming for "Paddington in Peru" was scheduled to begin without Zegler in July in the hopes she could join once SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers reached an agreement. With no deal yet in sight, Zegler's involvement in the production became untenable.
Even before Zegler's departure, the Paddington franchise endured notable changes.
There will be plenty of new faces in Paddington in Peru
For the third Paddington film, Ben Whishaw is stepping back into the recording booth to voice the titular bear, a role he originated in 2014. Also returning is Imelda Staunton as Paddington's Aunt Lucy, Julie Walters as Mrs. Bird, and Jim Broadbent as Samuel Gruber.
The Browns — Paddington's adoptive family in London — are central to the series. Hugh Bonneville, Madeleine Harris, and Samuel Joslin reprise their roles to accompany Paddington on his next adventure. However, "Paddington in Peru" sees Emily Mortimer take over as Mrs. Brown, replacing Sally Hawkins.
"For me, it has felt the right time to hand the reins over to another, and one can't get much better than the truly wonderful Emily Mortimer, she is extraordinarily special," Hawkins said in a statement (via Variety). "... However, I am, and will always be in love with Paddington's world. I already greatly miss my on and off-screen family — the experience of making the first two films has truly been some of the best and most creative times I have had in the world of film."
There will be some changes behind the camera as well. Dougal Wilson is handling directorial duties in his feature film debut. Paul King helmed the first two installments.
This piece was written during 2023's SAG-AFTRA strike. To learn more about why actors are currently on strike, click here for an up-to-date explainer from our Looper team.