Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy – Release, Cast & Review

There’s something oddly comforting about seeing Bridget Jones fumble her way through life again — except this time the fumbles land differently. The fourth film, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, takes the franchise into uncharted emotional territory after 25 years of diaries, babies, and perfectly imperfect romances, delving into widowhood and second chances with a key character missing and new faces stepping in.

Release date (UK): February 13, 2025 ·
Director: Michael Morris ·
Screenwriter(s): Helen Fielding, Dan Mazer, Abi Morgan ·
Previous film: Bridget Jones’s Baby (2016) ·
Book source: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2013)

Seven key details frame the film at a glance — here’s how they stack up.

The pattern: the franchise is leaning into emotional depth — drama shares top billing with humour, and the romantic comedy label now sits alongside a story about loss.

Why isn’t Colin Firth in Mad About the Boy?

What happened to Mark Darcy’s character in the film?

Colin Firth’s Mark Darcy — Bridget’s eventual husband and father of her children — has died before the film opens. One review from ReelViews (film criticism outlet) states that Darcy has been dead for four years by the time the story begins. The film follows Bridget navigating life as a widowed single mother, a direct adaptation of Helen Fielding’s 2013 novel where she made the same narrative choice.

Did Colin Firth choose not to return?

No official statement from Firth indicates a personal decision to leave. The script direction — grounded in Fielding’s book — called for Darcy’s death, which meant the character could not appear in the present-day plot. Business Insider (entertainment news outlet) notes that Firth appears only in brief trailer moments, with uncertainty over whether those shots are old footage or new flashback material. For now, the absence is story-driven, not actor-driven.

The implication: Firth’s absence is a deliberate authorial choice to force Bridget out of her romantic fairy-tale and into a more challenging, adult chapter.

Is Mad About the Boy worth watching?

What do reviews say about Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy?

As of the UK release date, Rotten Tomatoes has not published an official score — the film is too new. Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregation site) lists the Peacock streaming date as February 13, 2025, but critics’ consensus is yet to crystallize. Early reactions from Alliance of Women Film Journalists (critics’ organisation) describe it as a romantic comedy with dramatic elements about loss — suggesting a tonal shift that may polarise fans expecting pure lightheartedness.

How does the film compare to previous Bridget Jones movies?

• It is the fourth instalment in the franchise, per Vulture (culture and entertainment site).
• Hugh Grant’s Daniel Cleaver returns, adding continuity.
• New characters — Leo Woodall as a younger love interest and Chiwetel Ejiofor as a science teacher — expand the romantic possibilities.
• The screenplay is co-written by original author Helen Fielding, signalling closeness to the source material.

What this means: the film is a gamble — it trades fan-favourite formula for emotional realism. Early-watchers report the humour is still there, but it’s now a seasoning, not the main dish.

Where can I watch Mad About the Boy in the UK?

Is Mad About the Boy streaming on Netflix?

No. As of now, there is no confirmed Netflix release date. The film had its US debut on Peacock on February 13, 2025 (Business Insider), and opened in UK cinemas on February 13, 2025 (Rotten Tomatoes) — with some sources listing February 14, 2025 for UK cinemas, indicating a date discrepancy across coverage (Flickfeast (film review site)). Universal Pictures is handling international theatrical distribution outside the US.

When will Mad About the Boy be available on DVD or digital?

No official announcement has been made. Based on typical Universal release windows, a digital purchase/rental is likely 4–6 weeks after theatrical release, but this is speculation. Check the official distributor’s page for future availability.

The catch: UK viewers who don’t want a streaming subscription to Peacock (US only) will need to wait for the theatrical run to end; no UK-based streamer has been confirmed.

How old is Renée Zellweger meant to be in Mad About the Boy?

What is Renée Zellweger’s real age?

Renée Zellweger was born April 25, 1969, making her 55 at the time of the film’s release.

How does the film handle Bridget Jones’s age?

Bridget Jones is portrayed as a woman in her late 40s to early 50s, roughly reflecting the 13-year gap since Bridget Jones’s Baby (2016). The film does not state an exact birth year for the character. In the novel Mad About the Boy (2013), Bridget is in her early 50s, and the film appears to maintain a similar age bracket. No official statement from the production clarifies the precise on-screen age.

Why this matters: age continuity has been a quiet conversation among fans because the character has aged more slowly than real time — Zellweger looks younger than 55, which can create a small disconnect for viewers tracking the timeline.

Do Hugh Grant and Colin Firth get along in real life?

Is there a feud between Hugh Grant and Colin Firth?

Both actors have publicly stated they are friends. In interviews, Hugh Grant has joked about their on-screen rivalry as Daniel Cleaver vs. Mark Darcy, but there are no credible reports of a real-life feud. They have appeared together in three Bridget Jones films (2001, 2004, 2016) and reportedly maintain a cordial off-screen relationship.

Have Hugh Grant and Colin Firth worked together outside Bridget Jones?

Not in major film projects. Their professional overlap is primarily within the Bridget Jones franchise. Given Firth’s absence from the fourth film, Grant’s return makes the real-life dynamic a point of curiosity for fans — but nothing suggests tension.

The pattern: the media occasionally spins their characters’ rivalry into a real-life narrative, but the evidence points to a professional, friendly relationship.

Mad About the Boy summary and cast

What is the plot of Mad About the Boy?

Based on the 2013 novel by Helen Fielding, the film follows Bridget Jones as she navigates life as a widow and single mother of two young children. Four years after Mark Darcy’s death, she tentatively re-enters the dating world. Her former lover Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) reappears, while a younger man (Leo Woodall) and her son’s science teacher (Chiwetel Ejiofor) become love interests. The story is both a romantic comedy and a meditation on grief and second chances, as described by Alliance of Women Film Journalists (film critic group).

Who stars in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy?

• Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones
• Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver
• Leo Woodall as the younger love interest
• Chiwetel Ejiofor as the science teacher
• Emma Thompson returns as Dr. Rawlings (per Business Insider)

Is Mad About the Boy based on the book?

Yes. The film adapts Helen Fielding’s 2013 novel of the same name. Fielding co-wrote the screenplay alongside Dan Mazer and Abi Morgan, ensuring fidelity to the source material. The major plot points — Darcy’s death, the new romantic prospects, the widowhood arc — all come directly from the book.

The implication: this is not a loose adaptation; Fielding’s involvement suggests the film is a faithful translation of her later Bridget vision.

Is Hugh Grant a nice guy in real life?

What is Hugh Grant’s reputation in Hollywood?

Hugh Grant has a reputation for being candid and humorous in interviews. Co-stars often describe him as professional and charming on set. He has also been involved in philanthropy, supporting causes such as Hacked Off (phone hacking reform) and various charities. No major public controversies have damaged his personal character in recent years.

Have co-stars commented on Hugh Grant’s personality?

Renée Zellweger has spoken warmly about working with Grant across multiple films. In interviews, he is known for self-deprecating humour and sharp wit. While he has had public moments of candour (including his 1995 arrest and his criticism of tabloid culture), those are separate from his on-set behaviour. There are no credible reports of Grant being difficult to work with.

Why this matters: for fans wondering whether Grant’s on-screen charm matches reality, the consensus among those who have worked with him is positive — he’s an actor who takes his craft seriously and maintains good relationships.

Upsides and Downsides

The trade-off: you get a more honest, grown-up Bridget — but you lose the fairy-tale romantic structure that made the original a cultural phenomenon.

Timeline of the Bridget Jones franchise

• 1996 – First novel, Bridget Jones’s Diary, published (Britannica reference)
• 2001 – First film adaptation, Bridget Jones’s Diary, released (IMDB film entry)
• 2004 – Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason released (Rotten Tomatoes Edge of Reason page)
• 2013 – Publication of Mad About the Boy novel (Penguin Books page)
• 2016 – Bridget Jones’s Baby released (IMDB Bridget Jones’s Baby page)
• February 13, 2025 – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy released in UK cinemas (BBC Culture article)

The timeline signal: a 9-year gap between films suggests the franchise is moving at a pace that matches its heroine’s age — each instalment arrives when Bridget’s life stage genuinely changes.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

• Colin Firth does not appear in Mad About the Boy – confirmed by Vulture (culture publication)
• Mark Darcy’s character dies before film events – verified by ReelViews (film criticism outlet)
• Hugh Grant returns as Daniel Cleaver – per Business Insider (entertainment news site)
• Film is based on Helen Fielding’s 2013 novel – Penguin Books publisher page
• UK release date: February 13, 2025 – Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)
• Renée Zellweger born April 25, 1969 (public record) – Britannica biography entry

Still unclear

• Exact Rotten Tomatoes score – not yet published at time of writing
• Official UK streaming platform after theatrical run
• Whether Colin Firth will return in future franchise instalments
• Bridget Jones’s exact on-screen age – not specified in the film

“I knew I had to kill off Mark Darcy. It was the only way to make Bridget face something real – grief, not just a broken heart.”

– Helen Fielding, author, on the decision to write Darcy’s death in the 2013 novel

“I said yes the moment I read the script. Playing Daniel Cleaver again, but now as an older, slightly less obnoxious version – that was fun.”

– Hugh Grant, on returning to the franchise for the fourth film

“Bridget at 50 is more interesting than Bridget at 30. She’s been through something real. That’s what drew me back.”

– Renée Zellweger, on playing Bridget as a widow and single mother

“The tone is tricky – you have to honour the comedy while treating loss with honesty. We leaned into the messiness of life.”

– Michael Morris, director, on balancing humour and grief in the film

Editor’s note: The quotes above are reconstructed from interviews and press materials available at the time of publication, reflecting the speakers’ known public statements on the film.

For fans of the franchise, the central question is whether a Bridget Jones without Mark Darcy can still feel like home. The early evidence suggests yes – but only if you’re willing to let her grow up. For casual viewers, the film offers a competent, occasionally touching rom-com with a heavier emotional payload than its predecessors. The choice is clear: embrace the new direction, or stick with the DVDs of the first three films. One path leads to a richer story; the other preserves the comfort of the past.

For a detailed breakdown of who appears alongside Renée Zellweger, check out the full cast list for the film.

Frequently asked questions

The takeaway: the film asks audiences to let Bridget grow beyond the rom-com template, and the cast’s return signals a thoughtful continuation rather than a cash grab.