The long-awaited sequel to Paddington 2 has a premiere date, but fans of the beloved bear will still have a long wait.

Paddington in Peru will be released January 17th, 2025 in the United States, by Sony Pictures, which got its paws on the rights to distribute the film after an intense bidding war. (StudioCanal, who are producing the film, announced that UK fans will only have to wait until November of 2024).

Location filming started in July of this year in the UK, but the SAG-AFTRA strike has forced Rachel Zegler to drop out of the production, according to StudioCanal. In her place, newcomer Carlo Tous will play the role of Gina Cabot. As previously announced, Sally Hawkins dropped out after two Paddington appearances as Mrs. Brown, and was replaced by Emily Mortimer.

Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin and Jim Broadbent are reprising their roles, and will be joined by franchise newcomers Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas. Ben Whishaw and Imelda Staunton also return as the respective voices of Paddington and Aunt Lucy.

The film is being directed by Dougal Wilson from a script by Mark Burton, Jon Foster and James Lamont. It’s produced by David Heyman and Rosie Alison for StudioCanal and Heyday Films 

The film begins six years after Paddington 2, and sends Paddington to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown Family traveling with him, they all face a thrilling adventure as a mystery sends them on an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and to the mountain peaks of Peru. 

Paddington 2 is regarded as one of the best films ever made, with a 99% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a boatload of critical acclaim, including numerous awards and nominations, and a memorable pop culture moment in the movie The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, where Pedro Pascal’s character reduces Nicolas Cage’s character, a heightened version of himself, to tears by showing him the film. It has also grossed over $500 million worldwide.

The character of Paddington was created by children’s author Michael Bond in 1958.