US companies had suggested Paddington should be Americanised
The boss of the firm behind the Paddington films has said the character will not be Americanised, after some US companies had said it is “not American enough.”
This week, French streaming company Canal+, which owns the film rights to the fictional bear, began trading on the London Stock Exchange.
Speaking to the BBC about the value of the Paddington brand, Canal+ chief executive Maxime Saada praised the ‘authenticity’ of the character, and revealed they had resisted pressure from some American companies to Americanise Paddington for US audiences.
Saada said: “We got some feedback from American companies that Paddington the bear is not American enough.
“To maximise the Paddington box office, we could have made an American movie.”
Saada did vow that the the character’s Britishness would remain untouched, saying this was a huge part of the appeal of the films and brand.
He said: “This is the most British bear… it has appealed to a lot of people because it is authentic. This is really our most prized intellectual property… we are very careful about being very close to its roots and authentic.”
Many took to social media to fume over the suggestion that the iconic British character should be altered to suit a cross-Atlantic audience.
One person commented: “Speaking as an American, why should Paddington Bear be more American? He’s British and I love him as he is!”
A second said: “As an American I would love to know which idiotic companies said this so I don’t support them with my business in the future.”
Someone else penned: “Paddington is British. Leave Paddington alone.”
Earlier this year, the third Paddington film was released in cinemas. Paddington in Peru follows the bear and his adopted British family as they return to his homeland, with predictably chaotic results.
Saada said that although a fourth installment in the franchise was in the works, it is “certainly not coming tomorrow.” An animated Paddington series is also being worked on.
