The chief executive of Canal+, the French streaming company behind the Paddington film franchise, has reassured fans that the beloved British bear will not be Americanized for US audiences.
Maxime Saada emphasized that Paddington’s British heritage would remain intact, stating, “This is the most British bear… it has appealed to a lot of people because it is authentic.”
The announcement comes as Canal+ began trading on the London Stock Exchange, marking a significant milestone for the company, which owns the rights to the Paddington franchise.
Saada revealed that while American companies had suggested making Paddington more “American” to boost its box office potential, the company has decided to preserve the character’s British identity, calling it “the most prized intellectual property” of the company.
Canal+ is known for streaming hits like Versailles, and its subsidiary, StudioCanal, holds the rights to popular franchises such as Total Recall, Shaun the Sheep, and Bridget Jones, alongside Paddington.
The latest Paddington film, released last month, follows the bear and his British family on a journey to his homeland in Peru.
Saada confirmed that while Paddington 4 was not coming “tomorrow,” work is underway on a follow-up film and an animated series.
Canal+ operates in 50 countries and boasts 27 million subscribers, with a significant portion based outside of France.
The London Stock Exchange listing is seen as a “vote of confidence” in the city’s market, which has faced challenges in attracting new business in recent years.
The decision to list in London was influenced by the flexibility of the UK’s market rules and its strong creative industry, Saada said, which helped attract interest from global investors.
The flotation is expected to value Canal+ at up to €6bn (£5bn).
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