Ben Whishaw replaces Colin Firth as voice of “Paddington”

As announced on Thursday, “Skyfall” star Ben Whishaw has stepped in for Colin Firth and will voice Paddington Bear in the Weinstein Company’s family film “Paddington.”

Firth left the live-action/CGI hybrid project in June, but by mutual consent. Producer David Heyman told the Daily Mail, which broke the news, that the Oscar winner’s voice was ultimately “too adult” for the character.

Paul King is directing “Paddington,” and the film is expected to be released in the U.S. on Christmas Day

Also read: Colin Firth leaves “Paddington” as voice actor

Heyman and King were looking for a “slightly more open and younger voice” for the optimistic bear, who comes to England from Peru with a sense of wonder.

Whishaw was in London to record Paddington’s dialogue in a post-production facility.

“He breathes and speaks and sounds like Paddington and not like the man with the most beautiful chocolate voice (Firth) on the planet,” King told the Daily Mail.

Also read: Queen has Ben Whishaw in mind for the role of Freddie Mercury

“Paddington” stars Nicole Kidman, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters and Peter Capaldi.

Whishaw was not a big fan of the popular character as a child and even doubted whether he would be up to the challenge of following in Firth’s footsteps. He revealed to the Daily Mail that he had “had bad experiences with this type of work in the past and thought I was not good at it”.

However, Whishaw also has a young niece and is excited to contribute to a film that will delight children of all ages.

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Photo credit: Studio Canal/PA