The beloved Peruvian bear, Paddington, has received an “official” British passport from the Home Office, much to the delight of fans. Rob Silva, co-producer of the upcoming third film in the Paddington series, revealed that the bear has been granted a passport for his travels in Peru.
Silva shared with the Radio Times: “We wrote to the Home Office, asking if we could get a replica, and they actually issued Paddington with an official passport – there’s only one.” He added, “You wouldn’t think the Home Office would have a sense of humour, but under official observations, they’ve just listed him as Bear.”
The passport lists Paddington as Paddington Brown, a British citizen born on 25 June in Peru. In Michael Bond’s books, Paddington was raised by his Aunt Lucy after being orphaned and later sent to live in England with the Brown family. In the upcoming film, Paddington and the Brown family return to Peru to visit Aunt Lucy, embarking on an adventure through the Peruvian mountains and the Amazon rainforest.
While some cast and crew filmed in Peru and Colombia, voice actor Ben Whishaw, who has voiced Paddington in all three films, remained in London. He expressed his desire to visit Peru and Colombia but was confined to a basement in Soho. Whishaw also mentioned that he didn’t get to meet co-stars Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas but enjoyed their performances immensely.
The Home Office’s gesture, though appreciated by many, has drawn criticism from some. William Yarwood, media campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, questioned the Home Office’s priorities, stating that taxpayers “will be bewildered that a fictional bear received a passport.”
Despite the controversy, Paddington In Peru is set to release on 8 November, promising more adventures and the charm that fans adore.
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