| "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" |
Synopsis:
Like its predecessor, "Edge of Reason" will star Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant. In the follow-up, Bridget (Zellweger) will discover that life with Mark Darcy (Firth) isn't quite as perfect as she had dreamed.
Studio: Miramax Films
Release Date: November 2004
Confirmed Cast to date: Renée Zellweger ... Bridget Jones
Colin Firth ... Mark Darcy
Hugh Grant ... Daniel Cleaver
Behind the camera:
Director: Beeban Kidron
Writers: Richard Curtis Screenplay
Andrew Davies
Helen Fielding Novel
Helen Fielding Screenplay
UPDATE:
Renee's Huge Pay Day
30 May 2003
Bridget Jones' Diary beauty Renee Zellweger has scored the biggest deal of her career after agreeing to appear in the sequel. Producers of Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason were so desperate to sign the Hollywood superstar that they upped their bid to $22.5 million. Renee, who only took home a measly $3.75 million for the first installment, will put on 20lbs for the role, which sees the character end in up in a Thai jail accused of drug smuggling. Colin Firth and Hugh Grant have both reportedly agreed to reprise their roles as well.
'Bridget Jones' Director Wrangle
26 May 2003
The sequel to smash hit Bridget Jones's Diary has hit yet another stumbling block - this time over who will direct it. According to reports in the British press, superstar lead Renee Zellweger wants to replace producer's favorite Beeban Kidron with Calendar Girls filmmaker Nigel Cole. Renee, who will reportedly bag $16 million plus ten per cent of profits for reprising the role in The Edge Of Reason - is pressing producers to drop Kidron for Cole. However, those close to Cole suggest he'd be reluctant to take on somebody else's project after the expected success of Calendar Girls - which is due out in September. Britain's Daily Mail claim film bosses are currently trying to persuade Zellweger to let them stick with Kidron - whose previous hits include To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie
Newmar.
UPDATE:
Jun 20, 2003: The long struggle to bring to the screen "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason," the sequel to "Bridget Jones's Diary," took another step forward with the addition of a director. British filmmaker Beeban Kidron will helm the film, which begins shooting in November.
UPDATE:
Zellweger's signed a package deal with Universal and Miramax that will pay her $21 million to do both Cinderella Man and the sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary, which begins filming in October. On both films, Universal will be the domestic distributor and Miramax internationally.
UPDATE:
Firth Joins Bridget Jones Sequel After Curtis Steps In
Colin Firth only agreed to star in the Bridget Jones' Diary sequel after British film-maker Richard Curtis stepped in to rewrite the script. The production has been plagued with troubles ever since the three main stars Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Firth refused to commit to The Edge Of Reason unless they were entirely happy with the script. After original drafts by novelist Helen Fielding and celebrated scriptwriter Andrew Davies needed further work, Curtis - who has just directed both Grant and Firth in Love Actually - was brought in, and now a previously resistant Firth has given the project the go-ahead. He says, "I'm now happy with the script, which has been through various drafts, the latest of which was by Richard Curtis."
UPDATE:
Barrett makes latest entry in 'Diary' sequel
23 October 2003 (The Hollywood Reporter)
Jacinda Barrett, a veteran of MTV's The Real World, has landed another high-profile acting role, joining the cast of the upcoming sequel to the 2001 hit Bridget Jones's Diary. Returning for the sequel, titled Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, are Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. Barrett will play Bridget's co-worker in the film, which is being directed by Beeban Kidron. The Working Title Films production is being distributed by Miramax and Universal Pictures. The sequel was adapted by Andrew Davies and Helen Fielding from Fielding's book. In it, Bridget discovers that life with Mark Darcy isn't quite as perfect as she dreamed. Barrett, who most recently appeared on the big screen in the 2000 thriller Urban Legends: Final Cut, has been busy lately with a trio of highly anticipated projects in the works. She next appears opposite Nicole Kidman and Anthony Hopkins in the upcoming Miramax drama The Human Stain, followed by roles in the Walt Disney Co.'s John Travolta starrer Ladder 49 and Fox Searchlight's White on White. Barrett is repped by
ICM.
UPDATE:
Zellweger Offered Millions To Lose Weight
31 October 2003 (WENN)
Actress Renee Zellweger has been offered a massive $3.2 million to shed the weight she's put on for the Bridget Jones's Diary sequel, once shooting has wrapped. Diet giants Weightwatchers are tempting the Oscar nominee with a $110,000-per-pound sponsorship deal if she manages to lose 30 pounds after the movie, which has already netted the actress a reported $24 million. The company want Zellweger to follow British royal Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess Of York's slimming plan and appear with her in adverts when filming finishes on the Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason set at the start of next year. An insider says, "This is the easiest cash she'll ever earn. Being paid to eat more to play Bridget again is great, but getting even more cash just to shift that weight is beyond belief."
UPDATE:
Hugh Grant's Fatty Jibes to Renee
4 November 2003 (WENN)
British star Hugh Grant has been teasing his co-star Renee Zellweger about her weight gain for the role. Joker Grant is playing cad Daniel Cleaver in movie sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason, and wasted no time on-set in ribbing the usually svelte Zellweger about her expanded frame. A source says, "The minute he clapped eyes on Renee he hollered, 'My God, you're huge!' He's been carrying on with the fatty jibes ever since, but Renee laughs it off, saying at least she's supposed to be chunky. They giggle together like kids all the time. The other day, she left him an autographed pair of Bridget-style big knickers - only they were about 10 sizes bigger than the ones she wears."
UPDATE:
Zellwegger Dumped for "Bridget Baggage"
10 November 2003 (WENN)
Actress Renee Zellwegger has split from rocker Jack White for good - because he hated her Bridget Jones's Diary routine. The American star has piled on the pounds again to play the neurotic title character in upcoming sequel The Edge Of Reason - and her 'becoming' Bridget proved too much for edgy White Stripes frontman Jack, who's finally walked away from their on-off relationship. Insiders say Jack was worried Renee's middle-of-road Bridget persona would affect his own work, making him less dynamic. A source on the film's set reveals, "It looks like it's all over for Renee and Jack - and for good this time. Things have looked bleak for a while but there have been plenty of phone calls to give them hope, falsely as it now turns out. The bottom line is that Jack didn't want to lose his creative edge. Cuddly nights in with piles of junk food are just not for him. He's told her to get in touch after she's finished this project and shed the Bridget baggage. Jack sees it as a lifestyle choice, that combined with the distance between them equals a temporary dead end. Renee thinks he's just being shallow. There's no way she'll go back for more." The pair met while filming Cold Mountain, the hotly-tipped Jude Law and Nicole Kidman film that was Jack's Hollywood debut.
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