Although Paddington In Peru reunited the тιтular bear with the Brown family, one of the franchise’s major roles was recast for the third installment. Despite playing a key role in both previous films, Sally Hawkins departed the series and didn’t return for Paddington 3. Alongside the likes of Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Samuel Joslin, and Madeleine Harris, Sally Hawkins was an integral part of the Brown clan. However, despite her successful and popular portrayal of Mrs. Brown, Hawkins elected not to return for the threequel, which created a very different dynamic for Paddington 3.

Despite playing a supporting role to Ben Wishaw’s Paddington, Mary Brown has arguably been more important than many characters in securing the bear’s status as a de facto Brown family member. In the original Paddington, for instance, it was she who was most open-minded when it came to helping the homeless bear find his place in the London metropolis. Likewise, in Paddington 2, she not only helped Paddington purchase the pop-up book that set the story in motion, but also used her swimming skills to rescue the bear from a crashed train. As a result, recasting such a major role had serious ramifications for Paddington In Peru.

Sally Hawkins Stepped Down As Mary Brown In Paddington 3

Emily Mortimer Replaced Sally Hawkins In The Paddington Movies

Despite her prominence in the series thus far, Sally Hawkins decided to step back from Paddington and didn’t return for Paddington In Peru. Although her previous performances as the character rank as some of her best and most recognizable roles, it seems as though the decision has been entirely her own. As the 48-year-old explained (via Digital Spy), “it has felt the right time to hand the reins over to another,” adding:

“However, I am, and will always be in love with Paddington’s world.

“I already greatly miss my on and off-screen family – the experience of making the first two films has truly been some of the best and most creative times I have had in the world of film. They both gave me so much joy.

“I will forever hold them so very close to my heart indeed.”

These comments do not provide much insight into whether there was any specific moment or behind-the-scenes drama that

prompted Hawkins to quit the role. It’s possible that the seven-year delay between Paddington 2 and Paddington In Peru may have been a factor, since it represented a loss of momentum. However, even without there being a particularly dramatic reason for her departure, a sense that the time was right to move on is a perfectly reasonable explanation.

Where You Know Paddington 3’s New Mary Brown Actor, Emily Mortimer

The New Mary Brown In Paddington Is A TV And Movie Veteran

Although Sally Hawkins’ absence from Paddington 3 will be jarring for many fans, the character is in safe hands thanks to her replacement, Emily Mortimer. A veteran of film and TV, Mortimer has been active since the early 90s, rising to prominence with performances in projects like Lovely & Amazing and Match Point. This, in turn, led to high-profile roles in series such as The Newsroom and Doll & Em, as well as films like Mary Poppins Returns.

A clear indication that Mortimer is well-suited to the role comes from Hawkins herself. Alongside her remarks about leaving the franchise, Hawkins said “…one can’t get much better than the truly wonderful Emily Mortimer, she is extraordinarily special. She will embody the essence of Mary Brown and yet make it utterly her own.” Even if it takes viewers a moment to adjust to the recast, the evidence of Mortimer’s career to date makes it clear that she’s more than capable of carrying the baton.

How The Casting Change Impacted Paddington 3

While there were fears for the franchise when it was announced that Sally Hawkins isn’t in Paddington 3, the cast change didn’t impact Paddington in Peru all that negatively. This is evidenced by the movie sitting with a 93% Tomatometer (critical score) on Rotten Tomatoes, an admirably high figure by any measure. While many felt it wasn’t quite as strong as the first two Paddington movies, the latest installment in the trilogy was far from a disappointment, even with the absence of Sally Hawkins as Mary Brown.

That being said, as solid a performance as Emily Mortimer gave in Paddington in Peru, there were a few who noted the absence of Sally Hawkins in Paddington 3, and there are hints that the movie could have been stronger had she returned. For example, Lucy Carter of Filmhounds writes:

The Browns are drifting apart, with Emily Mortimer as the new Mrs. Brown missing them spending time together as a family; again, a story that should have far more impact than it does.

While the more lackluster moments in the Brown’s story in Paddington In Peru could simply be chalked up to the script rather than Emily Mortimer, there will always now be “what if” questions over whether the movie would have been better had Sally Hawkins returned. Still, there were also many critics who praised Emily Mortimer as a solid casting choice for Mrs. Brown following Sally Hawkins not returning after Paddington 2, such as Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent:

[The cast playing the Brown family] all returning actors minus Sally Hawkins, who also jumped ship for Wonka but finds a worthy and nicely fretful replacement in Emily Mortimer.

Ultimately, the fact that Sally Hawkins isn’t in Paddington In Peru didn’t impact the movie all that much. It wasn’t the best Paddington movie overall, but it’s far from a bad film either. Whether it would have been better than Paddington or Paddington 2 with Hawkins playing Mrs. Brown instead of Emily Mortimer will likely always be debated, but