Paddington in Peru is great, but it’s a shame that Sally Hawkins didn’t reprise her role of Mary Brown in the film. After leaving Peru in the first Paddington movie, the lovable bear found a home with the Brown family. However, this might not have been the case if it wasn’t for Mary Brown, who instantly accepted Paddington. Since Mary has always wanted what is best for Paddington, they have had perhaps the most special relationship in the franchise. However, Sally Hawkins didn’t return for Paddington in Peru after starring in the previous two movies.

Rosie Alison, one of the producers for Paddington in Peru, claimed that they tried to convince Hawkins to return for the third film, but the actress felt like she had done everything she could with the character. Therefore, Emily Mortimer joined the cast of Paddington in Peru as Mary Brown. Despite Hawkins’ exit from the franchise, reviews for Paddington in Peru have been amazing. Admittedly, Mortimer is great in the movie, but I still really wish Hawkins decided to star in Paddington in Peru.

Paddington In Peru Feels Like The Natural Conclusion Of The First Trilogy

Paddington & The Browns Visit Peru In Paddington In Peru

Years after leaving Peru in the series’ first film, Paddington returns home with the entire Brown family in Paddington in Peru. They decide to take this family trip because the Reverend Mother at the Home for Retired Bears informed them that Aunt Lucy had been acting strange. Of course, the Reverend Mother, whose real name is Clarissa Cabot, lied to them, but this isn’t revealed until the end of Paddington in Peru.

At the end of the film, Paddington and the Browns foil Clarissa Cabot’s plans and enter El Dorado, which is the home of a large tribe of bears. This is actually where Paddington came from, before he was rescued and raised by Aunt Lucy and Uncle Pastuzo. Since Paddington finds his actual home at the end of the movie, Paddington in Peru wraps up the trilogy quite nicely. However, since there are still potential stories to tell in the series, Paddington in Peru could just be the end of the first trilogy.

Sally Hawkins Not Being In Paddington In Peru Hurts The Trilogy’s Ending

Paddington In Peru Includes A Flashback Of The First Movie

While Paddington in Peru has a great ending, I found it slightly less emotional than it should be since Hawkins does not play Mary Brown in the film. While Paddington is deciding whether to stay with his tribe of bears or return to London with the Browns, he and Mary share an emotional moment with each other. During this moment, Paddington in Peru even flashes back to the first Paddington film and shows Mary Brown meeting the тιтular bear for the first time.

This is an incredible flashback and shows just how close Paddington and the Browns have grown over the years. However, it’s kind of awkward since Mary Brown used to be played by Hawkins. Therefore, Paddington in Peru can’t actually show her face in the flashback. Since Hawkins is the only core Paddington cast member that isn’t present at the end of Paddington in Peru, the emotional climax of the film, and the trilogy, doesn’t hit as hard as it should.

Sally Hawkins Should’ve Waited Until After Paddington In Peru To Leave The Franchise

Sally Hawkins Returning Would Have Made Paddington In Peru More Emotional

Since Alison admitted that they tried their best to convince Hawkins to return for the third movie, it is clear that even the creative team behind Paddington in Peru was disappointed that they had to recast Mary Brown. Ideally, Hawkins would have agreed to star in just one more Paddington movie so that the trilogy could be finished with the same set of actors. After the ending of Paddington in Peru, it would have felt a lot more natural to recast a prominent character like Mary Brown.

Recasting actors is a somewhat normal occurrence in the movie industry. However, in this case, it is especially disappointing since Paddington in Peru is so closely tied to the first movie in the franchise. Since Hawkins had no interest in returning, Mortimer had to take over the role in Paddington in Peru. Mortimer was great in the series’ third film, and I’m sure she’ll give an excellent performance in the upcoming Paddington 4. However, I still wish that Hawkins agreed to return as Mary Brown in Paddington in Peru.