Third Bridget Jones in pipeline

Zellweger has not ruled out a return to the Bridget Jones role

A third film in the Bridget Jones series is in development, production company Working Title has confirmed.

It is hoped Renee Zellweger will return to the role she first played in 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary and reprised in 2004 sequel The Edge of Reason.

No writer or director has been assigned to the project, which Working Title say is in its "very early stages".

According to Variety, it could be based on columns author Helen Fielding wrote in 2005 and 2006 for The Independent.

The fictional columns saw publishing executive Bridget, now in her 40s, attempt to have a baby.

The first two films were based on books of the same name by Fielding.

Zellweger, who turned 40 herself this year, was Oscar nominated for her role in the first Bridget Jones film.

Directed by Sharon Maguire, the romantic comedy made almost $282m (£171.5m) worldwide.

Its follow-up, directed by Beeban Kidron, made $262m (£159m) worldwide when it came out three years later.

The character started life as the fictional writer of the Bridget Jones's Diary column in The Independent in 1995.