Renée Zellweger movies scenes for Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy
Renee Zellweger continued filming Bridget Jones’ fourth outing Mad About The Boy in London this week.
The American actress, 55, shot scenes as she took her character and late husband Mark Darcy’s children to school, before running into PE teacher rumoured love and interest Mr Walker (Chiwetel Ejiofor, 46).
The movie is based on the novel of the same name as Bridget battles motherhood alone following the tragic death of Mark, who was played in the previous films by Colin Firth, 63.
She will also embark on a love affair with a much younger man named Rockstar, played by One Day star Leo Woodall, 27.
Renne donned jeans and a cream padded jacket for the shoot while her young co-stars, who star as daughter Mabel and son Billy, donned school uniforms.
Renee Zellweger, 55, continued filming Bridget Jones’ fourth outing Mad About The Boy in London this week
The American actress, shot scenes as she took her character and late husband Mark Darcy’s children to school, before running into PE teacher rumoured love and interest Mr Walker (Chiwetel Ejiofor, pictured)
The movie is based on the novel of the same name as Bridget battles motherhood alone following the tragic death of Mark, who played in the previous films by Colin Firth , 63
Renne donned jeans and a cream padded jacket for the shoot
Meanwhile Marvel’s Chiwetel looked smart in a double breasted navy suit before all the actors changed to film scenes set on a different day.
Renne later slipped into Bridget’s iconic mini skirt and cardigan the character appeared to flirt with the PE teacher who was now dressed in a brown blazer.
Actress Leila Farzad was also on set and appeared chic in a cream woollen coat which she teamed with a matching skirt and brown leather boots.
The return of Bridget’s mini-skirt will no doubt remind fans of Bridget’s exchange with Daniel in the original film, when the sexist love rat emailed her after spotting her in a very short garment.
He famously wrote: ‘Where is skirt? Is skirt off sick?’
And she replied: ‘Am appalled by message. Skirt is demonstrably neither sick nor absent. Appalled by management’s blatantly size-ist attitude… to skirt. Suggest management sick, not skirt!’
He replied: ‘If walking past office… was attempt to demonstrate presence of skirt… can only say that it has failed parlously. Cleave.’
She then hit back with: ‘Shut up,please. I’m very busy and important. P.S. How dare you sexually harass me… in this impertinent manner.’
The actress later slipped into Bridget’s iconic mini skirt and cardigan to film scenes set on a different day
While her young co-stars, who play daughter Mabel and son Billy, donned school uniforms
Renne collapsed into fits of giggles during a break in filming
The movie will see the iconic character also embarking on a love affair with a much younger man named Rockstar, who is played by One Day star Leo Woodall , 27
Marvel star Chiwetel looked smart in a double breasted navy suit and blew his whistle
Renne is returning to the beloved role for a fourth time
Bridget and Mr Walker at first appeared friendly
Before the teacher seemingly lost his temper, suggesting love won’t come easy for the pair
Chiwetel then changed into a brown plaid blazer
Colin Firth (left) Mark Darcy in the previous films before his character’s death with Hugh Grant (right) returning as Daniel Cleaver after being presumed dead in the last film before being found very much alive
Daniel concluded: ‘Mortified to have caused offense. Will avoid all non-P.C. overtones in future. Deeply apologetic. P.S. Like your t**s in that top.’
While the exchange was seen as somewhat cheeky and flirtatious at the time, it’s now deemed to be rather sexist.
The Telegraph wrote: ‘One of the “cancel worthy” aspects of the story is the relationship with Bridget’s boss, Daniel Cleaver.
‘Cleaver is objectively objectionable: a hard drinking sexual deviant who cheats on lovely Bridget (bad) and leaves her to attend the Alconbury’s Tarts and Vicar’s party alone (arguably even worse). But he’s also (unfortunately) incredibly sexy.
‘Some have said the relationship with Cleaver is sexual harassment because it starts in the work place and ends badly.’
In the new film, Bridget enjoys a fling with Rockstar and PE teacher Mr Walker, as played by 12 Years A Slave actor Chiwetel Ejiofor as well as reviving her on-off relationship with Hugh Grant‘s Daniel Cleaver.
Chiwetel, 46, was seen shooting scenes last week which means only Hugh and Colin Firth – who has a small role in the movie as the late Mark Darcy – are yet to be spotted in character.
Renee and Leo were spotted filming together on May 18 in hilarious scenes as Bridget got stuck up a tree in Hampstead Heath.
Rockstar, who works as a park warden, seemingly comes to her rescue dressed in an all green uniform.
One onlooker said: ‘Leo and Renee looked like they were having a great time. There were lots of giggles, they seemed to get on really well.’
Bridget Jones filming comes on the heels of sheer delight from fans after the announcement of the beloved character’s return to the big screen.
The movie was officially confirmed last month, with Renée and Hugh Grant’s comebacks made official – after his love rat character Daniel Cleaver’s death was falsified in 2016’s third installment.
Actress Leila Farzad was also on set and appeared chic in a cream woollen coat which she teamed with a matching skirt and brown leather boots
She filmed scenes opposite Renne outside the school
The actress later checked her lines in the script
One Day star Leo Woodall plays Bridget’s toy boy lover in the movie
The fourth movie in the franchise – based on the books by Helen Fielding –
will be released by Universal film on US platform Peacock on Valentine’s Day 2025 while internationally, the flick will be released in cinemas.
Emma Thompson – who played Doctor Rawlings in the last film, is also back, with Chiwetel Ejiofor and White Lotus star Leo Woodall also set to star.
Renee has been busy since she arrived in London two weeks ago to reprise her role as the singleton for the fourth, and probably final, time.
She spent four days filming at ITV’s studios in White City, West London, where programmes such as This Morning and Loose Women are made.
There she met presenters from both shows, including Cat Deeley who was said to have been ‘super excited’ at seeing her.
Many studio staff were ‘overcome with excitement’ and desperate to get selfies with the Hollywood star when they realised that the movie was being filmed at their workplace.
Scenes were recorded on the set used by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly for their now defunct show Saturday Night Takeaway, while audience members from Loose Women were also asked to stay for filming of some scenes.
One source at ITV said: ‘It was chaos, imagine having Bridget come to your work. It was literally a dream come true. The place was absolutely buzzing. Word got round so fast, Cat was so excited.’
Bridget’s creator Helen Fielding has also been spotted at the filming as she prepares to say goodbye to the much-loved character. The film is due out on Valentine’s Day next year.
It was revealed last month that Bridget’s obsession with losing weight will be ‘played down’ in the film amid fears they might be a bad influence.
