Hugh Grant may return says Bridget Jones's Baby director Sharon Maguire

Maguire said she missed having Grant on board for the latest film
Emma Powell9 December 2016
The Weekender

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Hugh Grant may have been noticeably absent from Bridget Jones's Baby – but director Sharon Maguire has revealed he could make a return to the much loved franchise.

The British actor turned down the chance to reprise his role as Daniel Cleaver alongside Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth in this year’s sequel – but if a fourth film gets the green light, Grant could be back.

“I always miss Hugh because he’s so lovely,” Maguire told the Standard. “He’s still part of our dysfunctional family.

“I don’t think he’s gone forever. He may be coming back. If I’ve got anything to do with it I’ll try and persuade him.”

Loved up: Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver with Renee Zellweger as Bridget Jones

Maguire was speaking at the Evening Standard British Film Awards where Bridget Jones's Baby picked up the Peter Sellers Award for Comedy.

Maguire said it was an “extra special” honour to receive an award in the capital, where the film was shot.

Evening Standard Film Awards 2016: Winners

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Maguire’s comments came weeks after Firth revealed Grant had been involved in script meetings before deciding not to star in the latest instalment.

Speaking to the Standard he said: “We did have conversation over the years. I don’t know if it was about trying to convince him.

“It was about discussing whether this script or that script was going to work and we actually had meetings, script-development, spit-balling meetings where various ideas were thrown about.

“Once he was clearly not going to be able to do it I’m not going to be one of those people to try and twist arms.”

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