Legal Battle Erupts as Satirical Show Production Company Confronts Lawsuit Over Beloved Character Portrayal
For countless fans who adore Paddington Bear, Michael Bond's jam-obsessed character represents the quintessence of British courtesy and understatement – rendering this recent portrayal as a substance-using, potty-mouthed podcast host particularly challenging.
Nevertheless, the comedic reinterpretation of Paddington by the creators behind Spitting Image has turned out to be excessive for the film studio and estate that own the intellectual property.
Court Action Launched Against Studio
StudioCanal, behind the successful Paddington movies, are joining forces with Bond's estate to take legal action against UK-based production company Avalon, which produced Paddington's radical reimagining.
A legal filing, first reported by industry media, cites intellectual property and design right concerns. The legal document omits the specifics of the allegations, but it comes after Paddington's appearance in the latest Spitting Image YouTube program, titled The Rest Is Bulls*!t.
The show includes sketches about Elon Musk, former presidents and political figures. It also parodies widespread podcasts where hosts talk about reaching goals.
Disputed Characterization Details
The program is hosted by a typical Spitting Image-style puppet of Prince Harry and a dishevelled-looking Paddington. In the premiere, Paddington starts by declaring he doesn't actually talk like Ben Whishaw, the prize-earning actor who voices the character in latest movie versions.
He then switches to a generic South American accent before exclaiming: "I am from Peru, motherfuckers – I am Paddington Bear from Peru! You most likely remember me from the films Paddington, Paddington 2 and Paddington in Peru. I also had a starring role in the Netflix series Narcos, as Pablo Escobear. It is a joke. Laugh, muchachos."
At the end of the segment, a chaotic Paddington is shown snorting a white powder before apparently losing consciousness.
Background Information of Comedy Program
The court action come several weeks after Avalon premiered The Rest Is Bulls*!t, a jab at the popular stable of podcasts produced by various media companies.
The show's launch on YouTube in July marked a fresh phase for Spitting Image, which has a rich history of offending its targets – typically politicians, rather than beloved children's characters.
- Original series was one of the most-watched programmes in the 1980s
- Ended only in 1996 after ratings declined
- Rebooted in 2020 for digital platform BritBox
- Continued for two series before being discontinued once more
Platform Adaptation
Its latest version on YouTube has been tailored for the service. Shows are between 10 and 15 minutes, created to attract viewers who browse suggested videos.
In the premiere episode, watched more than 500,000 times, Paddington and Harry interview Musk, and Paddington urges the rightwing billionaire to go to Mars. "You are excessively genius for one planet," he says. "As I say about my cocaine, it is only right to share."
He subsequently says the key to his personal glow is "100% Peruvian, biodynamic, organic, catastrophic cocaine."
The pair also announce an advert for guns. Paddington says: "Go to Bogotá and ask for Matthias. Tell him Paddington sent you."
The bear starts another section by commenting: "And that's why I said 'no' to Harry Potter. Paddington Bear gets out his wand for no one."
Company Statements
The film company refused to comment. A spokesperson for Michael Bond's estate said they were unable to speak as the issue was the subject of legal proceedings.
Avalon has been reached out to for comment.
