Renée Zellweger on Those ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’ Easter Eggs: “That’s Life, Isn’t It?”

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In the supposed last installment of the Bridget Jones series, titled “Mad About the Boy,” currently streaming on Peacock, there are numerous references and reminders to earlier films from the romantic comedy franchise, starring Renée Zellweger.

After an evening of drinking blue cocktails with friends following another awkward dinner filled with smug married couples, and dressing in red-and-white penguin pajamas, a top, short skirt, and a striking sweater, the fourth movie is filled with many references to Bridget’s past.

From sipping blue cocktails during gatherings with friends after frustrating dinners surrounded by smug married couples, to donning red-and-white penguin pajamas, a sheer top, and a short skirt, along with a distinctive sweater, the fourth movie is replete with nods to Bridget’s past experiences.

Director Michael Morris says the Easter eggs are an intentional form of fan service.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the recent premiere of Mad About the Boy, the director mentioned that there are more hidden references than one might initially notice during the first viewing. He went on to explain that these could be seen as “Easter eggs,” which are essentially treats for long-time fans. He questioned why this should be a problem, since these fans have been loyal supporters of the franchise for 25 years. He expressed his desire to incorporate some fan-friendly elements, adding depth and ensuring that these elements are subtly included.

Helen Fielding, the mind behind Bridget Jones, noted that the references aren’t exclusively tied to previous instalments of the romantic comedy series, but also encompass significant cultural events and elements associated with Bridget Jones since her inception.

Fielding explained that the scene featuring Leo Woodall’s character, Roxster, diving into a pool to save a dog in “Mad About the Boy,” was intentionally designed to recall the memorable ’90s Levi’s “Swimmer” advertisement.

Fielding pointed out an amusing coincidence at the New York premiere, stating that when he initially wrote Bridget, the BBC was airing Pride and Prejudice. The scene in question featured Colin Firth diving into a lake while wearing a wet shirt, which Fielding had previously interviewed him about in Rome. During this interview, Firth was promoting a serious film, but Fielding persistently asked him about the wet shirt, inquiring about how many times he would have to remove and re-wet the shirt for the scene. Leo had to take off his shirt approximately 12 times to dive into the pool.

For Zellweger, the “wonderful” Easter eggs are just authentic parts of someone’s story.

She remarked, ‘Life is like that, isn’t it? We all have certain traits or habits that remain constant and truly define us as individuals.’ And when it comes to her dresses, she doesn’t discard them – instead, she keeps wearing them for over two decades.

In the fourth movie, Bridget finds herself grappling with a vulnerable aspect of existence while trying to come to terms with the passing of Mark Darcy, played by Firth.

In 2013, Fielding penned “Mad About the Boy,” a book where she fictitiously took Mark Darcy’s life. Tragically, she herself lost her partner, Kevin Curran, in 2016. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while dealing with her own losses, she crafted the screenplay for “Mad About the Boy,” channeling those experiences into Bridget’s perspective.

Fielding shared with THR that our family has experienced a significant loss, not only of our children’s father but also close friends. It was a challenging period for us, one might say a time filled with grief. The kids’ dad was a writer for The Simpsons, so there wasn’t much humor off-limits. Yet, we discovered that a blend of resilience, good company, community support, and a touch of humor can help navigate both the dark and light aspects of life. Life, as Fielding put it, is like a piano with black and white keys. It has its hardships, just as it has its joys. Happiness is simply deciding where to end the story. No one’s life is perfect, everyone faces struggles. Writing through Bridget’s perspective, who may seem disorganized to some but is fundamentally a good person with strong values and a kind heart, helped us get through these tough times.

Morris was drawn to direct the film because he found the idea of exploring how a grieving Bridget Jones might behave, and discovering humorous aspects within that scenario, intriguing.

He expressed, ‘How can such immense happiness and warmth reside within a single individual while grappling with sorrow and melancholy? These conflicting emotions seemed like a story I longed to tell.’ Essentially, this is the narrative he intended to portray – one of moving forward after experiencing profound loss. However, one might wonder, ‘How does one do that if they are Bridget Jones?’

And Morris says he pitched the movie to production company Working Title as a “comedy of grief.”

He mentioned that sorrow is an inevitable aspect of being human. Everyone will experience it at some point, whether it’s losing a parent, a close friend, a beloved pet, or something else cherished. It’s a topic not often discussed, especially in the context of comedy and when it involves characters we’ve known for a long time like Bridget and Mark. Since we, the audience, have been with them for 25 years, I feel the loss keenly, making this an ideal opportunity to start a conversation about how we cope with such situations.

In the film, Bridget is surrounded by a larger circle of relatives and companions, which includes individuals she’s developed strong bonds with throughout the entire series.

Sarah Solemani, who portrays Miranda – one of Bridget’s newer friends and coworkers, believes that a fortunate life brings about a tight-knit group that stands by you during tough times. In this film, we see Bridget has her own little support system – her close circle that recognizes her sorrow, understands her struggles, and realizes she’s grieving, but they are determined to help her keep moving forward.

Additionally, Bridget’s support system encourages her persistence by allowing her to re-enter the dating scene, this time with a new admirer named Roxster (Woodall).

Regardless of the on-screen interactions, Woodall maintains that Roxster’s emotions are genuine.

He shared with THR that when he’s in the last scene with her, whatever words he speaks are sincere. He added, however, that it’s all just a matter of circumstance.

Even though it’s reported that this fourth Bridget Jones movie marks the end of the series, actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Solemani have expressed their readiness to rejoin if author Helen Fielding decides to further develop Bridget’s tale.

Absolutely, I’m quite eager about it. However, let’s be cautious and trust that she means there are no more, he warned.

Solemani expressed his enthusiasm about potentially contributing more to Bridget’s narrative, stating, “Absolutely, I’d be on board! As a screenwriter, I’m always brainstorming new plotlines. Since I have a background in TV, we often try to extract as much content as possible. However, the decision ultimately lies with Helen. Some say it might be the final chapter, but with Renée and Helen around and still creative, who knows what unexpected twists and turns could arise.

Meanwhile, Zellweger reflects in amazement at how she’s managed to keep portraying Bridget Jones for these past 25 years.

When asked if she had ever imagined, during the production of the first film, that there would eventually be a fourth movie with her as the character, Zellweger promptly replied, “Absolutely not. Not at all. I didn’t want to risk getting fired from the initial project, and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone, and I wanted Helen to be content.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is now streaming on Peacock.

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2025-03-11 03:25