David Heyman on “Paddington” as a “love letter to London”

In a new interview with the Radio Times, producer David Heyman has spoken about how his latest film, Paddington, is a “love letter to London.” The film, which starred several Potter alumni, including Julie Walters (Mrs. Weasley), Jim Broadbent (Professor Slughorn), Imelda Staunton (Professor Umbridge), and Sir Michael Gambon (Professor Dumbledore), was mainly set in London, the location for this year’s MuggleNet Live! event.

Heyman said,

All too often London is filmed in a grey way, perhaps due to the rainy days. It’s very rare that you see London look as beautiful as it really is.

On the filming itself, Heyman further said,

We filmed all over London. Paddington is full of richness and colour; it’s a vivid portrayal of not just iconic London but [also] of the warm embrace and multicultural city that it is.

On the character of Paddington himself, Heyman commented that

when Paddington experiences adversity, he keeps on going. He is daring, optimistic and tenacious… even though he is a foreigner in a foreign land. Paddington represents us in our own land; we are all outsiders in some way, and we all appreciate the warm, welcome embrace of a stranger, who will offer us help and make us feel welcome.

He continues to say,

We are all outsiders. That’s why I wanted to make the film; because however well, however happy [we are], we all feel a little bit like outsiders, a little bit alienated, a little bit unknown.

On London itself, Heyman said,

All Londoners have experienced the good and the bad, the person who gives a short shrift, and the person who, when we’re lost, shows us the way. London is a great city and a unique city… but most of all, London is home.

Heyman also gives his top places to visit in London, which include the National History Museum and the South Bank. You can read the full article here.

The Paddington DVD will be released in the UK on March 23 and in the US in April. Heyman is of course set to produce the upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film, and hopefully, we’ll start learning more about it as the year progresses.

What are your top places to visit in London? Are you coming to the city for MuggleNet Live!? Let us know in the comments!