With Paddington in Peru closing in on its premiere date, many fans of the beloved children’s franchise may be wondering which actor or actress should be the villain in the next Paddington movie. Despite being first created in 1958, Paddington Bear has managed to captivate countless generations of readers and viewers right up until the present day. In 2014, the current movie franchise kicked off, with Ben Whishaw voicing the eponymous bear. Now, the franchise is close to releasing Paddington in Peru, which means even more fun – and chaos – for Paddington to get into.
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Although the Paddington movies are obviously centered on the adorable British bear, another major aspect of the films are the villains. The sneaky and suspicious people that Paddington must outwit clearly have devious motives, but rather than being dark or scary, these bad guys usually bring an extra air of fun to the movies. Their schemes and personalities are often campy and silly. Plus, the actors tend to be beloved actors or actresses that are superb at playing bad guys, such as Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, and Olivia Colman. So, Paddington 4’s villain has quite a few criteria to meet.
10 Daniel Craig
Craig Has Proven He Can Be Seriously Silly
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A solid candidate for the villain of Paddington 4 would be Daniel Craig. Although Craig is often recognized for his role as the straight-laced James Bond, the British actor is no stranger to being silly. One of the most notable examples of this is his character, Detective Benoit Blanc, in the Knives Out franchise. Though Blanc is a talented detective, he is memorable because of his exaggerated accent and his eccentric demeanor. This would fit perfectly into the Paddington universe.
Paddington 4 would also make sense with the rest of Craig’s resume. In the past, Craig has appeared in other children’s franchises, including The Golden Compass and The Adventures of Tintin. In fact, Craig played the main antagonist in Tintin, Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine. In this way, Craig has experience playing an over-the-top villain, making Paddington a natural pivot for him.
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9 Andrew Scott
Scott Is A Master Of Strange
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An actor who has risen to stardom more recently is Andrew Scott. Scott began his acting career in the mid-1990s, but didn’t become a big star until his appearance in 2019’s Fleabag as the Hot Priest. Now, he has garnered a number of interesting roles, and Paddington 4 would be another amazing addition. The main reason for this is that Scott’s most notable characters are almost always a bit strange, from the suspicious Tom Ripley to the chaotic Hot Priest.
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Of course, Scott has also proven his chops as a villain as well. In 2010’s Sherlock, Scott played the iconic villain, Moriarty. This performance alone is a perfect example of how Scott can play a bad guy that doesn’t follow stereotypes, but instead, marches to the beat of his own drum. As Scott grows into an even bigger star, his appearance in Paddington 4 would be a particularly exciting casting choice.
8 Meryl Streep
Streep Is The Queen Of Quirky Villains
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Another perfect choice for Paddington 4’s villain is Meryl Streep. Over the years, Streep has cemented herself as a true icon of Hollywood. From Mamma Mia to The Devil Wears Prada, Streep’s influence is obvious to generations of audiences. Thus, she would make the ideal addition to the Paddington franchise. However, the real genius of bringing Streep into the Paddington cast is the fact that she has originated some truly amazing villains in her time.
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Although Streep is one of the most beloved actresses of her time, she is no stranger to playing horrible characters. For one, Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada is a diabolical and frightening figure. Even in more recent years, Streep has taken on more villainous roles in projects like Big Little Lies. Considering Streep’s musical and dramatic abilities, she could certainly take on the exaggerated role of a Paddington villain.
7 Mark Ruffalo
Ruffalo’s Only Villain Character Is One Of His Best
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A relative newcomer to the world of fictional villains is Mark Ruffalo. Ruffalo is best known for his role as Bruce Banner in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he has also starred in other films such as 13 Going On 30 and Zodiac. In Ruffalo’s movies, he usually plays heroic type characters, even if they are a little more awkward or nerdy. Yet, very recently, Ruffalo took on his first villain role as Duncan Wedderburn in Poor Things, and this is proof the actor needs to take on more villain roles.
Ruffalo is ridiculous in his villainy, acting both depraved and hilariously silly.
In many ways, Ruffalo’s portrayal of Duncan is exactly what the Paddington franchise calls for. Ruffalo is ridiculous in his villainy, acting both depraved and hilariously silly. What pushes Duncan over the edge though, is his strange accent, which Ruffalo has admitted is a poor rendition of a British dialect. Overall, Ruffalo may not be the most experienced villain, but his first attempt is a solid fit for the world of Paddington.
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6 Anne Hathaway
Hathaway Hides As A Hero
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One actress that could be a rather surprising villain in Paddington 4 is Anne Hathaway. Hathaway is another beloved Hollywood star, who has originated such roles as Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries and Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada. Once again, Hathaway is another actress who usually plays heroes, which is what makes her such a great pick for Paddington. Usually, Paddington’s villains are actors who are hard not to love, which makes their villainy so much more fun.
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In Paddington 4, Hathaway could easily present as a kind and loving character who shocks audiences when she is actually revealed to be a villain. Luckily, Hathaway has even proven her ability to be bad in movies such as The Witches and Eileen. Overall, Hathaway could bring a unique ambiance to her villain character that others may not be able to provide.
5 Benedict Cumberbatch
Cumberbatch Has Done It All
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Another actor who is similar to Daniel Craig in his range of experience is Benedict Cumberbatch. Over the course of his career, Cumberbatch has played some serious roles, and some very silly ones. His ability to play Alan Turing in The Imitation Game is just as strong as his ability to play The Grinch. In this way, he perfectly toes the line of a Paddington villain.
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On top of that, Cumberbatch has the experience to back himself up. The British actor has appeared in various types of films, from straight dramas and historical epics to children’s animated films and massive franchise films. This not only makes him an experienced actor, but it also ensures that audiences will quickly recognize him. Thus, Cumberbatch could be a great candidate to be a quirky Paddington villain.
4 Daniel Radcliffe
Radcliffe Has An Amazing Legacy
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One performer that may not be at the top of audiences’ radars who would be an outstanding Paddington villain is Daniel Radcliffe. After originating the role of Harry Potter in the Harry Potter franchise, Radcliffe’s acting career has veered in a much more indie direction, with appearances in films like Swiss Army Man and Guns Akimbo. However, it may be time for Radcliffe to return to the franchise spotlight by taking on a role in Paddington.
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Although Radcliffe’s indie films have seen him portray characters far different from Harry Potter,
Paddington
could be a chance to do this on a much larger stage.
Radcliffe would be perfect for Paddington because he is recognizable, lovable, and talented. Audiences of all ages would be thrilled to see Radcliffe on the big screen again in such a pivotal franchise, and it would be even more fun to see him take on a bad guy role. Although Radcliffe’s indie films have seen him portray characters far different from Harry Potter, Paddington could be a chance to do this on a much larger stage. Radcliffe could be the dapper yet conniving villain Paddington needs.
3 Colin Firth
Firth Is A Hollywood Favorite
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If Hugh Grant was great in Paddington 2, then his former co-star, Colin Firth would most definitely fit the bill for a Paddington villain. Firth is yet another beloved actor who is best remembered for upbeat films like Mamma Mia and Bridget Jones’ Diary. Of course, Firth has also done some very serious and important work as well, but his more comedic side is what tends to be especially memorable. This, paired with a goofy villain storyline, could be great.
It could be an especially awesome moment if Firth and Grant reunited in Paddington 4 somehow. In the past, the actors have collaborated on Bridget Jones Diary and Love Actually. They share a charismatic yet silly energy that would be splendid to see combined. On top of that, Firth’s casting would be a full-circle moment, since Firth was originally set to voice Paddington back in 2014. Ultimately, Firth is an ideal option.
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2 Jeff Goldblum
Goldblum Is A Superb Goofball
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On the other hand, an actor who is probably a top pick for a Paddington villain is Jeff Goldblum. Goldblum is recognized for his work in Jurassic Park and horror movies like The Fly, but more than that, he is known for being a somewhat eccentric person. Goldlbum is funny, charismatic, and definitely has the ambiance of a supervillain. Plus, based on his experience working on Wes Anderson movies and smaller indie films, Goldblum is used to more quirky types of productions.
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Arguably, Goldblum is the type of actor who doesn’t even need a character to play a Paddington villain. Walking on as himself would be entertaining enough. Plus, after his upcoming performance as the Wizard in Wicked, Goldblum’s chances of joining Paddington’s cast could increase. The actor has all the tools to be a fantastic bad guy, especially in a franchise as fun as Paddington.
1 Ben Whishaw
Whishaw Could Offer A Shocking Paddington Twist
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Last but certainly not least is Ben Whishaw. Whishaw is the current voice of Paddington, which makes him an unexpected but amazing choice to be the next Paddington villain. Though it may get messy having Whishaw act against himself as an animated bear, it would be wildly entertaining for audiences. Additionally, there are many ways in which this casting could be used in interesting ways, including hiding Whishaw’s identity throughout most of the film.
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Overall, Whishaw’s casting as a Paddington villain is pretty unlikely, but it is definitely a unique idea. In general, any of these actors could give an outstanding performance in Paddington 4. Whoever ends up joining the Paddington cast will likely be just as wonderful as the franchise’s previous villains.
Paddington
The Paddington franchise is a beloved film and television series based on the character Paddington Bear, created by British author Michael Bond. The franchise began with the 2014 film Paddington, which follows the adventures of a polite Peruvian bear who finds a home with the Brown family in London. The series is known for its heartwarming storytelling, charming humor, and its themes of kindness, family, and adventure. The success of the films has led to sequels, a television series, and an upcoming third film, making Paddington a staple of modern family entertainment.
Created by Michael Bond , Paul King First Film Paddington Latest Film Paddington 2 Upcoming Films Paddington in Peru Cast Ben Whishaw , Hugh Bonneville , Sally Hawkins , Julie Walters , Peter Capaldi , Jim Broadbent , Nicole Kidman , Hugh Grant , Imelda Staunton , Michael Gambon