Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy — release date, cast, plot and everything we know

Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in Bridget Jones' Diary
Renée Zellweger is back as Bridget Jones. (Image credit: © 2016 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Bridget Jones)

Almost a decade after we last saw them together on our screens, Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant are both officially reprising their roles in Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, the fourth Bridget Jones movie. 

Bridget Jones 4 will be based on the best-selling novel by Helen Fielding called Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, released in 2013. 

Fans of the movie franchise will remember that 2001 introduced us to Bridget in all her chaotic and lovable glory in Bridget Jones's Diary, then followed Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason shortly afterward in 2004. We then had a wait until 2016 for Bridget Jones's Baby, which saw Bridget find herself pregnant and unsure who the father is following a break up with Mark. 

Spoiler alert — Bridget and Mark marry at the end of the third movie giving fans the fairytale ending they always wished for. However, for those of you who haven't read "Mad About the Boy you are in for a bit of a shock, because there is a huge Mr Darcy-shaped twist in the book. 

In the latest update, we now have new casting and a release date! Here is everything you need to know about Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy...

Colin Firth as Mark Darcy and Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in Bridget Jones' Baby

Colin Firth as Mark Darcy. (Image credit: © 2016 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Bridget Jones Baby)

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy release date 

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy will be released in the US in theatres and on Peacock on Valentine's Day 2025. 

There's no UK release date, although it's likely to be around the same time.

Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver in Bridget Jones' Diary

Hugh Grant is returning as Daniel Cleaver.   (Image credit: © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Bridget Jones)

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy plot 

Brace yourself and warning, spoilers ahead for anyone who hasn't read "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" yet... 

In the book, Bridget is a 51-year-old single mother to two children, Billy and Mabel who are now seven and five, and is a widow after the sudden death of Mark Darcy, who is killed in a landmine in Sudan. 

The book's storyline picks up a few years after Mark's death, and we find Bridget putting herself out into the dating world once more. But, of course, this is Bridget we are talking about and naturally comedy and chaos ensue. It has been reported that the movie will take place eight years after the events of the third installment. 

As well as navigating life after Mr Darcy, "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" also sees Bridget juggle head lice epidemics, school-picnic humiliations, and cross-generational sex. She also learns that life isn't over when you start needing reading glasses — and why one should never, ever text while drunk.

It is thought the movie will follow the book's storyline, but this is yet to be confirmed. 

Colin Firth as Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones' Baby

It is yet to be revealed if the film will follow the plot of the book.  (Image credit: © 2016 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Bridget Jones Baby)

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy cast 

Of course, no Bridget Jones movie would be complete without, well, Bridget! Renee Zellweger is reportedly excited about making the fourth installment in Bridget's story and looking for a home in London to stay in while filming in the UK takes place. Hugh Grant is back as Daniel Cleaver. It's unlikely Colin Firth will feature as Mark Darcy has been killed off.

Hugh's return will be a welcome surprise to fans after he didn't appear in Bridget Jones’s Baby. In the third movie, Daniel is thought to have been killed in a plane crash, resulting in a comical funeral where Bridget is forced to give a eulogy. However, in the final moments of the film, a newspaper headline reveals that he was found alive after all. 

New cast includes One Day star Leo Woodall, who's thought to be playing a young love interest for Bridget, although that's not been confirmed. Also joining the cast is Chiwetel Ejiofor, whose role isn't confirmed and Emma Thompson is also reprising the role of Dr. Rawlings. 

It's also expected that Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones, Shirley Henderson, and Celia Imrie will come back to the Bridget Jones franchise one more time but this is also yet to be confirmed.

Colin Firth as Mark Darcy, Patrick Dempsey as Jack and Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones and in Bridget Jones' Baby

Bridget Jones' Baby saw a love triangle between Bridget, Jack and Mark.  (Image credit: © 2016 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Bridget Jones Baby)

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy trailer 

It's too early for a trailer seeing as the movie is still in the early stages of production, however, as soon as one is released we will add it to this guide. 

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.