According to Deadline Hollywood, the former Grey’s Anatomy actor is in final negotiations to star in the third film, Bridget Jones’s Baby.
After playing Derek Shepherd for over 12 seasons on the hospital drama, Patrick admitted to Entertainment Weekly he was excited to take on new characters.
“I want to try something different,” he said at the time. “[But] is Derek so identifiable that I can’t go on and be someone else?”
The beloved Pride and Prejudice-inspired rom-com will see Renee Zellweger reprise her role as Bridget, who is now a 40-something publishing executive.
Patrick will no doubt make many dreams come true in the upcoming British rom-com.
The man who loves Bridget just the way she is, Colin Firth will also return as her love Mark Darcy.
Unfortunately token bad boy Hugh Grant, who portrayed the insatiable Daniel Cleaver, will not come back after he was “unimpressed” with the script. We expect McDreamy’s Patrick will step into the dashing love rival role with ease.
The incredibly clever Sharon Maguire, who directed Bridget Jones’s Diary in 2001, will return along with the mastermind behind Bridget, Helen Fielding who has written some parts of the script.
According to Deadline, the upcoming third instalment was inspired by Helen’s columns and not by her book Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, in which (spoiler alert) Mark, whom Bridget marries and has kids with, dies.
While Mark Darcy will (hopefully) continue loving Bridget just as she is, Hugh Grant will not reprise his role as Daniel Cleaver. Let’s take a moment to remember him and his fondness for Bridget’s mini skirt.
Thankfully, British actress, Emma Thompson has been brought in to rewrite a new (and hopefully happier) ending!
To make the film that much sweeter, romance crooner Ed Sheeran will make a cameo.
British newspaper, The Sun reported that Renee attended one of Ed’s concerts, with the bubbly blonde sitting on a mystery man’s shoulders as Ed sang from the stage.
However it looks like the lead actress of the film missed out on seeing the British singer, with a source telling the paper that there was a stunt double in her place.
“There was no risk in filming Renee at a busy gig. But they knew the cat would be out the bag the minute people saw her at the show,” the source explained.
“Renee’s body double and the cameramen were in and out of the crowd as quickly as possible.”
Adios to her Sit Up Britain days… Bridget is now a 40-something publishing executive.
