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Friday, 19 April, 2002, 07:25 GMT 08:25 UK

Grant not keen on 'Bridget' sequel


Grant doubts he will team up with 'Bridget' co-stars
Grant doubts he will team up with 'Bridget' co-stars
Hugh Grant has said he doubts there will ever be a sequel to hit UK movie Bridget Jones's Diary.

The actor was speaking at a press conference of his latest film About A Boy, where he stars as an irresponsible adult who befriends a young boy.

Zellweger was nominated for an Oscar

Bridget Jones was a huge worldwide hit, taking more than £40m in the UK alone and earned leading lady Renée Zellweger an Oscar nomination.

Bridget Jones author Helen Fielding's follow-up novel, Edge of Reason, has already been the subject of sequel rumours.

But Grant, who starred as the devious Daniel Cleaver in the movie, said he "would not put money" on a sequel being made.

He said: "The people who are keen to make the sequel are Working Title (Bridget Jones's producers) because they see dollar signs flashing in front of them.

"I'm a little bit equivocal to tell you the whole truth. I don't feel particularly keen.


" If you fund more productions, you don't get more good films, you get more bad ones "
Hugh Grant

"I don't want to let everyone else down if they want to do it. Having said that I don't think Renée is that keen to be fat again."

In his new film, About A Boy, Grant teams up with directing brothers Chris and Paul Weitz, the duo behind the hit comedy American Pie.

Rachel Weisz, Toni Collette and Victoria Smurfit co-star in the movie which is based on Nick Hornby's best-selling novel.

'Not right'

The film is released in the UK on 26 April and in the US on 17 May.

But Grant is not happy with the movie's trailer on TV across the Atlantic.

He told BBC Radio 4's Back Row programme on Saturday that the movie's producers are trying to push a romantic element in the movie, instead of the main storyline about his relationship with the boy.

About A Boy opens on 26 April in the UK

"They're trying to make it like Notting Hill. I don't know if they are right. I think in marketing terms they are trying to sell the film down the river slightly.

"They make it look like every other American movie, instead of allowing it to be a bit different."

Grant said he was shocked by the attitude of some UK screenwriters who make the transition from TV to the big screen.

Grant runs Simian Films with Hurley

He told the radio programme: "There are some who know what they are doing, but there are others who have an extraordinary kind of arrogance. They come out of television and they think they can do this.

"It is a craft and needs to be learnt and learnt the hard way."

The Four Weddings and a Funeral star was also scathing about the handout of National Lottery money to UK film production.

"If you fund more productions, you don't get more good films, you get more bad ones.

"I would have invested all that money into the film industry, the right kind of film school or screen writing academy.

"People who actually learn to write for the big screen and not just television. It's not the same thing at all."

The interview with Hugh Grant was on Back Row, BBC Radio 4, on Saturday at 1730 BST


Related to this story:
Grant draws crowds at 'Boy' première (15 Apr 02 | Film) In pictures: About A Boy première (14 Apr 02 | Film) Hurley's ex unsure over baby (04 Dec 01 | Showbiz) Grant visits pregnant Hurley (09 Nov 01 | Showbiz) Hurley breaks split silence (28 Jun 00 | Entertainment)


Internet links: Back Row on BBCi | About A Boy |
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