Legal Battle Breaks Out as Satirical Show Studio Confronts Legal Action Over Beloved Character Portrayal
For millions who cherish Paddington Bear, Michael Bond's marmalade-loving character represents the quintessence of British courtesy and restraint – rendering this new portrayal as a drug-taking, potty-mouthed podcast host particularly challenging.
However, the comedic reinterpretation of Paddington by the team behind Spitting Image has turned out to be excessive for the film studio and rights holders that own the intellectual property.
Legal Proceedings Launched Against Production Company
The film producers, behind the successful Paddington movies, are partnering with Bond's estate to sue British production company Avalon, which created Paddington's drastic reinterpretation.
A legal filing, initially covered by industry publications, cites intellectual property and design right issues. The court filing omits the particulars of the claim, but it follows Paddington's appearance in the most recent Spitting Image YouTube show, titled The Rest Is Bulls*!t.
The show includes sketches about tech billionaires, former presidents and political figures. It also satirizes ubiquitous podcasts where hosts discuss reaching goals.
Disputed Characterization Details
The show is hosted by a typical Spitting Image-style puppet of Prince Harry and a unkempt Paddington. In the first episode, Paddington starts by declaring he doesn't actually 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 conclusion of the episode, a disorderly Paddington is shown inhaling a white powder before apparently losing consciousness.
Historical Context of Satirical Show
The court action come several weeks after Avalon premiered The Rest Is Bulls*!t, a jab at the successful collection of podcasts created by multiple media companies.
The show's debut on YouTube in July signaled a fresh phase for Spitting Image, which has a rich history of offending its targets – typically politicians, rather than treasured children's characters.
- Original series was one of the most-watched programmes in the 1980s
- Ended only in 1996 after ratings waned
- Revived in 2020 for digital platform BritBox
- Continued for two series before being discontinued once more
Digital Transformation
Its latest version on YouTube has been tailored for the platform. Episodes are between 10 and 15 minutes, designed to attract viewers who scroll through recommended content.
In the premiere episode, viewed more than half a million times, Paddington and Harry interview Musk, and Paddington encourages the conservative 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 later says the key to his personal glow is "100% Peruvian, biodynamic, organic, catastrophic cocaine."
The pair also present an commercial for guns. Paddington says: "Go to Bogotá and ask for Matthias. Tell him Paddington sent you."
The bear begins another section by observing: "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 representative for Michael Bond's estate said they were unable to speak as the matter was the subject of court action.
Avalon has been reached out to for response.
