Legal Dispute Erupts as Satirical Show Production Company Confronts Lawsuit Over Paddington Bear Episode
For countless fans who adore Paddington Bear, Michael Bond's jam-obsessed creation epitomizes the very essence of English politeness and restraint – rendering this new depiction as a drug-taking, potty-mouthed podcast host particularly challenging.
Nevertheless, the satirical overhaul of Paddington by the creators behind Spitting Image has turned out to be excessive for the film studio and estate that own the character's rights.
Legal Proceedings Initiated Against Production Company
StudioCanal, responsible for the hit Paddington movies, are partnering with Bond's estate to take legal action against British production company Avalon, which produced Paddington's drastic reinterpretation.
A legal filing, first reported by industry media, cites intellectual property and design right issues. The court filing doesn't detail the particulars of the allegations, but it follows Paddington's inclusion in the most recent Spitting Image YouTube show, titled The Rest Is Bulls*!t.
The show includes sketches about tech billionaires, Donald Trump and Keir Starmer. It also parodies ubiquitous podcasts where hosts discuss achieving success.
Disputed Characterization Details
The program is presented by a typical Spitting Image-style puppet of Prince Harry and a unkempt Paddington. In the first episode, Paddington begins by proclaiming he doesn't really talk like Ben Whishaw, the prize-earning actor who voices the character in recent movie adaptations.
He then changes to a stereotypical South American accent before exclaiming: "I am from Peru, motherfuckers – I am Paddington Bear from Peru! You probably remember me from the films Paddington, Paddington 2 and Paddington in Peru. I also had a major part 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 inhaling a white powder before seemingly losing consciousness.
Background Information of Satirical Show
The legal proceedings come three months after Avalon premiered The Rest Is Bulls*!t, a poke at the successful stable of podcasts produced by various media companies.
The show's launch on YouTube in July signaled a fresh phase for Spitting Image, which has a long tradition of offending its subjects – typically politicians, rather than treasured children's characters.
- Original series was one of the popular programmes in the 1980s
- Cancelled only in 1996 after viewing figures waned
- Revived in 2020 for streaming service BritBox
- Continued for two series before being discontinued once more
Platform Adaptation
Its latest version on YouTube has been adapted for the platform. Episodes are between 10 and 15 minutes, created to appeal to viewers who browse suggested videos.
In the premiere episode, watched more than half a million times, Paddington and Harry interview Musk, and Paddington urges the rightwing billionaire to go to Mars. "You are too much genius for one planet," he says. "As I say about my cocaine, it is only right to share."
He subsequently says the secret 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."
Official Responses
StudioCanal declined to comment. A spokesperson for Michael Bond's estate said they could not comment as the matter was the subject of legal proceedings.
Avalon has been contacted for response.
