Renée Zellweger, 55, to ‘date Leo Woodall’, 27, in Bridget Jones 4-Robert Oliver and Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

Bridget Jones will reportedly have a younger love interest in the fourth film (Picture: Rex/Getty)

After almost 10 years away, the Bridget Jones’ Diary saga is officially returning with Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant onboard – as well as a toy boy for Bridget.

One Day star Leo Woodall and Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor are exciting new additions to the cast, with Woodall, 27, thought to be playing a love interest for Zellweger, 55.

The film is officially titled Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, the same as the novel released by Helen Fielding back in 2013.

Bridget Jones’ Diary first graced screens back in 2001, following the story of singleton Bridget (Zellweger) as she navigated romance, friendship, and later motherhood in 21st century Britain.

First sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason followed up in 2004, but it was another 12 years until Bridget Jones’ Baby came along in 2016.

Eight years later, the fourth cinematic outing, set for release in 2025, brings back 63-year-old Grant’s Daniel Cleaver for a reported ‘love triangle’ between him, Bridget and Woodall’s character.

What is Leo Woodall’s role in Bridget Jones 4?

Leo Woodall is one of the hottest stars around after The White Lotus and One Day, and he’s joining the Bridget Jones family (Picture: Stefano Delia/HBO)

The White Lotus breakout star Leo Woodall and 12 Years A Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor are both formally onboard for the film.

New reports seem to confirm it does follow the plot of the book, with both potentially portraying Bridget’s new love interests (so more of a ‘love square’?).

In Fielding’s novel, Bridget entertains two possible new men: Roxster, a 30-year-old toy boy and her kids’ disapproving (of her) teacher, Mr Wallaker.

And with Grant confirmed too, Daniel isn’t out of the picture – although it seems Colin Firth’s Mark Darcy, Bridget’s husband and awkward but charming love interest across the series, is.

A source told The Sun: ‘Bridget is going to be a real cougar in the new film and she’ll be seen starting a relationship with a much younger character played by Leo.

Chiwetel Ejiofor is the other main newcomer, with speculation that he and Woodall will be Bridget’s new love interests (Picture: Getty)

‘He was thrilled about landing the part and will have a major role as her love interest in Mad About The Boy.’

The insider went on to confirm Bridget is a single mum, ‘trying to navigate a new world of social media and dating apps after Mark’s death’ (sob).

‘Hugh Grant is back as Daniel Cleaver, so there will be a love triangle between Bridget’s older flame and this much younger new man.’

This possibly puts Ejifor’s part in a position to be reinterpreted for Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, but we’ll have to wait to find out.

Considering how well Woodall broke hearts as the lovable but flawed Dexter in One Day with Ambika Mod though, he’s absolutely got the charm and chops to pull off the part of Roxster.

Who is in the Bridget Jones 4 cast?

Hugh Grant is returning for Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, but Colin Firth’s Mark Darcy is, devastatingly, out (Picture: Rex/Shutterstock)

Bridget Jones 4 will of course see Renée Zellweger step back into the role for the first time since 2016’s Bridget Jones’ Baby.

Hugh Grant is also making a welcome return as bad boy Daniel Cleaver, after Bridget Jones’ Baby, which Grant skipped, initially had Daniel thought killed in a plane crash, with Bridget attending a memorial service for her former boss and lover.

However, at the end of the film, a newspaper headline revealed that Daniel had been found alive, and now that hint at his future return has paid off.

In the book, Helen Fielding killed off Mark – and it sounds like it’s the same for the movie (Picture: Universal/Studio Canal/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock)

In the novel of the same name, Bridget is forced to confront life as a widow in her 50s with two children after Mark’s death some years before.

Grant has also now seemingly confirmed the movie will follow that storyline,opening up to Entertainment Tonight about the ‘very sad’ script.

‘It’s based on trying to bring up two children alone, and then [it’s] all mixed up in the Bridget Jones [style] comedy, so it’s very sad, as well as very funny. It has me in tears,’ he told the publication.

Emma Thompson is back as Dr Rawlings after her hilarious debut in 2016’s Bridget Jones’ Baby (Picture: Universal/Everett/Shutterstock)

Emma Thompson is also returning as Dr Rawlings after her entertainingly frank appearance in Bridget Jones’ Baby.

Fans will also be hopeful that the likes of Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones, Shirley Henderson and Celia Imrie will come back to the Bridget Jones franchise one more time as the main character’s family and friends.

One star from Bridget Jones’ Baby whose future in the franchise is more uncertain is Patrick Dempsey after his character Jack lost to love rival Mark Darcy – Bridget and Mark were married at the end of the third film, with Mark the father of her child.

What do we know about Bridget Jones 4 so far?

The film shares a title with Helen Fielding’s book (Picture: Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock)

Bridget Jones 4 was officially confirmed by author and screenwriter Helen Fielding, who wrote the successful romance novels the series is based on.

She then worked alongside Richard Curtis for Bridget Jones’ Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, before heading the writers’ room for Bridget Jones’ Baby.

She told the Radio Times back in October 2022: ‘I’m working on it and I really hope it will happen. Every film that gets made is a miracle – it’s really difficult to make films happen and to make them good. But I’d love to see it on the screen.’

It’s set to start shooting soon, in order to be released next year (Picture: Laurie Sparham/Universal/Studio Canal/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock)

Now, with the announcement of the cast, she has got her wish, with To Leslie filmmaker Michael Morris directing the movie.

Although it’s expected the film will bear strong similarities to the novel, there’s always the chance for big deviations.

The Bridget Jones’ Baby film killed off Daniel when in the book he was alive and a contender for the father, so anything could happen.

When is Bridget Jones 4 being filmed and where?

It’s back to London for the Bridget Jones production team (Picture: Rex/Shutterstock)

Bridget Jones 4 is expected to begin filming in just a few weeks.

According to MailOnline, shooting is set to commence in London in May, two decades on from when Bridget Jones first arrived on our screens.

This also ties in with the casting announcement having just been announced.

Reports have suggested that Zellweger has been trying to find UK properties to live in so that she can remain in the country while filming.

A source told the publication: ‘Bridget is back and is about to take over London. Filming is being mapped out already and all of the pre-production is in place.

‘There was some uncertainty about whether it would get off the ground, but the movie is coming. Renee is excited about bringing Bridget back. She adores the character so much.’

It’s expected that the majority of the film will be shot on location around London, although not much is known about any locations that may be featured in the upcoming movie.

Is there a Bridget Jones 4 release date or trailer? 

When is Bridget likely to be back in our lives? (Picture: NBC)

So far, there are no trailers for Bridget Jones 4 as it’s still in pre-production.

However, we now have an official title, a main cast – and a release date.

It’s also sooner than expected, as based on production schedules for previous Bridget Jones films, it was looking likely that a Christmas 2025 release could be on the cards.

However, we will get Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy much sooner than that, as it’s been announced the movie is slated to be released in cinemas and on Peacock on February 14, 2025.

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy will be released on Peacock in the US and cinemas internationally on February 14, 2024.

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