This week, Bridget Jones is back in cinemas, and not only is the lead character single again, after her relationship with the dreamy Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) has come to an end, but she finds herself pregnant and unsure if the father is her ex, or the new man in her life, the dashing Jack (Patrick Dempsey).
To celebrate the release of ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’, Movies.ie has gathered together 10 facts about the movie that you really ought to know…
1. New Material
This is not a film adaptation of Helen Fielding’s book ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’, released in 2013. Instead it’s based on an original screenplay, which Fielding wrote with David Nicholls. Nicholls is no stranger to romantic books and movies, he wrote the novel ‘One Day’, and the screenplay for the film adaptation starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.
2. Time Lapse
The last instalment in the Bridget Jones franchise – ‘Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason’ – was released in Irish cinemas in November 2004, this means it has been almost 12 yeas since we have had the pleasure of a new Bridget Jones movie!
3. Gone Daniel Gone
Hugh Grant’s character Daniel Cleaver – the other side of the love triangle that Bridget found herself in in the first two films – does not appear in ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’.
4. Love Rival
Colin Firth says Mark Darcy’s new rival for Bridget’s attention, Patrick Dempsey’s character Jack, is more intimidating than his former opponent, Hugh Grant’s Daniel Cleaver; “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”.
5. Weight Gain?
This is the first time that Bridget Jones actress Renée Zellweger has not gained any weight for her role as Bridget Jones. While this caused an outcry among fans, director Sharon Maguire defended the decision, saying it showed that Bridget had finally got her figure he way she wants it, but her love life is still out of control.
6. First Time!
The three Bridget Jones films make up the first trilogy to be directed by women; Sharon Maguire helmed the first and third movies, with Beeban Kidron taking over directing duties for ‘Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason’.
7. Return to Bridget
Renée Zellweger was happy to revisit her iconic character for this new movie, saying; “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”.
8. New Technology
In the first two films, Bridget handwrote her diaries. This time out, Bridget has moved with the times, and journals on an iPad.
9. Happy Ending?!
Three different endings for ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’ were shot, and none of the cast know which one has been used; they will only find out when the movie screens for the first time.
10. When can I see ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’?
‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’ is released in Irish cinemas on September 16th 2016. Watch the trailer below…