Huge 90s rom-com icon surprises fans in Paddington in Peru end credit scenes-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

Paddington in Peruwill delight fans with a major cameo (Picture: StudioCanal)

*Spoilers for Paddington in Peru below*

Everyone has been chomping at the bit for Paddington Bear’s return to our screens in Paddington in Peru since Paddington 2 proved to be such a beloved smash-hit seven years ago.

However, the threequel has tickled fans with another delightful surprise in store thanks to a massive 90s rom-com star making an appearance during the end credits.

Or should we say, a repeat one?

Yes, that’s right, star of films such as Four Weddings and A Funeral and Notting Hill, Hugh Grant, pops up in two end credits scenes in Paddington Peru after his triumphant performance in the previous film.

In fact, while Grant may have initially been known for his blinkingly British and charmingly awkward persona in the first phase of his career, it’s roles in the likes of the Paddington franchise – for which he was Bafta-nominated – as well as turns in A Very English Scandal, Wonka and horror movie Heretic, with which he is making a name for himself all over again. And a very different one at that.

Hugh Grant is back as Phoenix Buchanan for Paddington 3 (Picture: Warner Bros)

Grant made his name in rom-coms like Notting Hill, but has branched out in recent years with more unexpected roles (Picture: Everett/Rex/Shutterstock)

Let’s not forget too that Paddington 2 is currently one of the most highly rated films ever on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, at 99%. It was dethroned from the full 100% by one measly negative review, but it still considered equally as good as movies such as Citizen Kane.

Who did Hugh Grant play in Paddington 2?

Hugh Grant played the villainous thespian Phoenix Buchanan in Paddington 2, a vain and arrogant actor with a fading career who enjoys taking on various different guises – as well as having a penchant for stealing books.

Buchanan was a thieving thespian who saw Paddington put behind bars in the previous film (Picture: Jaap Buitendijk)

When Paddington is sent down for his crime, it sets the Browns off on a quest to exonerate him and prove Buchanan’s guilt, while their adopted bear struggles to keep his spirits high while locked up in prison – even if his marmalade sandwich recipe and iconic hard stare do improve things for his fellow prisoners.

Luckily Buchanan, who was using the book to help uncover clues around London for the location of some secret treasure, is eventually apprehended and jailed.

The last we see of him is the delighted actor performing a song and dance routine to Rain on the Roof in the prison with prison guards and his fellow inmates, enjoying his ‘captive audience’.

What happens in Paddington 3’s end credit scenes?

While the film follows a totally separate adventure in South America with Paddington, the Browns and new characters played by Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas, it does catch up with Buchanan right at the end.

After Paddington finds his original home from when he was a cub in El Dorado – an orange grove that’s home to juicy oranges and whole host of bears and not a secret stockpile of gold – he is overjoyed to be reunited with Aunt Lucy,

However, he decides that he still wants to go back to London with the Browns and his new life at Windsor Gardens. Therefore, a visit from all his new bear relatives is organised.

Near the start of the credits, following a montage, Paddington is shown taking his relatives to visit Buchanan in prison.

He introduces them all one by one to the actor over the telephone system while they visit him behind glass, revealing them all to have been given human names like his.

He’s still in his iconic pink striped jail outfit and planning more musicals in Paddington 3 (Picture: Warner Bros)

So they’re all station names, including Elephant and Castle (separately), and even Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich.

Never one to miss an opportunity to put on a show, the thieving thespian says he is shortly to be released and pitches a stage version of a Goldilocks musical to them, starring him.

Although they might be slightly puzzled by the suggestion, Buchanan is off in his own thoughts, musing: ‘I’m thinking Autumn, I’m thinking small theatres…’

These are, of course, all still West End venues though, like the Wyndham and the Duchess.

He even starts casting some of Paddington’s relatives as the central bears on sight – Daddy Bear, Mummy Bear and Baby Bear – adding to the youngest ones: ‘Come hither, don’t be frightened.’

Paddington in Peru sees Paddington reunited with his original bear tribe while on a quest to find his Aunt Lucy (Picture: Studiocanal)

A second brief scene follows right at the very end of the film’s credits.

Returning just to focus on Buchanan in his pink prison jumpsuit as the bears leave from their visit, he says to himself: ‘What fun, what fun. What a lovely bunch of… fur.’

Could this set up Grant for a return for the now-confirmed Paddington 4? Fans would certainly be welcoming of the idea – and Buchanan’s already seven years into his decade-long sentence and possibly anticipating an early release.

Paddington 4 is scheduled to be released in 2028, in order to coincide with the bear’s 70th anniversary, who was created by author Michael Bond.

Curiously, Banderas revealed that there had initially been plans for him to film a musical number to play during the movie’s credits ‘with all the characters’, referring to all the various ancestors he also plays of his main character, boat captain Hunter Cabot.

‘At the end, there was no time or maybe no budget, I don’t know, or they thought better about it. I wouldn’t have minded to do it, I love musicals, I think it’s a beautiful art form,’ he told Digital Spy.

Producer Rosie Alison informed the publication that they had ‘ran out of time’ to do that particular credit scene as hoped, but tipped her hat to Grant’s reappearance by adding: ‘We did have a rather wonderful other credit sequence, which we thought we would leave space to enjoy.

Paddington in Peru is in UK cinemas now. It will be released in the US on January 17, 2025.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Entertainment – MetroRead More