BRITAIN’S most popular bachelorette Bridget Jones is making a shock comeback as a mother.
Bridget, who put big tummy-tucking control pants on the map, features in a fourth film already being secretly worked on by producers.
The blockbuster series was last on the big screen six years ago when Bridget Jones’ Baby saw her pregnant but trying to figure out who was the dad.
The new movie, co-penned by creator Helen Fielding, will see actress Renee Zellweger return alongside many of the original cast to tell the story of motherhood with her fast growing-up son.
Production set to begin later this year.
A source said: “There have been few more successful or more popular rom-coms than Bridget Jones over the last couple of decades, but everyone thought this one was done for good.
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“However the producers always knew their was a huge market for another sequel when the right story was available, and this feels like the right time to tell it.
“It will be seven or eight years since the last movie by the time this one hits the big screen, and fans will be desperate to find out what happened. It’s a British classic.”
It turned out in the third film that ultra-reserved lawyer Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth, was the father and not charming new man Jack Qwant (Patrick Dempsey).
It also saw appearances from Jim Broadbent, Emma Thompson, Celia Imrie and a cameo from Ed Sheeran.
Slippery Daniel Cleaver, played by Hugh Grant, did not appear.
But the door is open for a return of the character after a newspaper headline shown at the conclusion revealed he had been found alive, a year after his supposed death.
The films — launched in 2001 and based on the hugely successful book Bridget Jones’ Diary — chart the struggles of binge-drinking, chain smoking thirty-something Bridget and her quest for love and career success.
They have grossed almost £1billion in total at the box office.
The first and third films also proved to be critical successes.
The second instalment, The Edge of Reason, failed to win similar plaudits but was still a hit with fans.
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Star Renee, now 53, won a string of awards and nominations.
She last appeared in 2019’s Judy, the well-received biopic of Judy Garland.
BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY (2001)
BRIDGET Jones, 32, keeps a diary as she goes on a journey of self-improvement after being snubbed by barrister Mark Darcy, who she later falls for.
The diary follows her attempts to find ‘Mr Right’.
Bridget Jones, 32, keeps a diary as she goes on a journey of self-improvement[/caption]
But after Mark reads the diary, and her unflattering opinion of him, she fears he has gone forever.
Mark forgives her and the pair seal the deal with a kiss.
BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON (2004)
BRIDGET crosses paths with ex-flame Daniel Cleaver while presenting a travel show and they end up in bed together after Mark dismisses the prospect of marriage.
After Bridget is set up with cocaine at airport security Mark bails her out of a Thai jail.
Despite learning the truth about her affair, Mark gives her another chance and finally proposes.
BRIDGET JONES’S BABY (2016)
BRIDGET, now 43, is divorced from Mark.
She ends up pregnant following a one-night stand at a music festival with strapping lad Jack, a billionaire dating mogul, however it emerges Mark could also be the father.
Bridget ends up pregnant following a one-night stand in the third instalment[/caption]
After nine months of shared prenatal classes, Jack and Mark become close friends, although Mark is eventually revealed to be baby William’s dad.
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