Renee Zellweger was spotted filming new scenes with Bridget Jones in torrential rain on Tuesday, after angering the A-list stars by asking them to leave their homes during filming.
The 55-year-old actress is back in action as her famous character in the latest film in the Mad About The Boy franchise.
Renee was forced to wear a hair-protecting hood and a black puffer jacket as she braved the inclement weather on set in Hampstead.
Later she donned a flashy green skirt and a fluffy gray jacket, trying to stay dry with a large umbrella.
The new Bridget Jones sequel is reportedly sparking celebrity anger over its London filming schedule.
Renee Zellweger, 55, was spotted filming new scenes with Bridget Jones in torrential rain on Tuesday after angering A-list stars by asking them to leave their homes during filming.
At one point she wore a flashy green skirt and a fluffy gray jacket while trying to stay dry with a large umbrella
Stars including Harry Styles and Rami Malek, who live near the North London streets where filming takes place, are not too happy with the production.
According to The sunFilm directors have left letters with local residents asking them to come and go only at certain times so that filming is not disrupted.
A source said: ‘The film is causing chaos in this part of north London where much of the film is being shot.
‘Neighbourhoods where stars like Harry, Rami, Ricky Gervais and Rowan Atkinson live are all getting letters from production saying that filming cannot be interrupted.’
The letters ask residents to leave their homes during filming or not to come or go while the cameras are rolling.
The insider added: “It’s like they’re being held hostage by Bridget, and it’s driving everyone crazy.”
The film is based on the novel of the same name and is about Bridget struggling with her lonely motherhood after the tragic death of Mark, who was played by 63-year-old Colin Firth in the previous films.
She also enters into a love affair with a much younger man named Rockstar, played by One Day star Leo Woodall, 27.
Renee was forced to wear a hair-protecting hood and a black puffer jacket as she braved the bad weather on set in Hampstead
The actress, 55, is back in action as her famous character in the latest film in the Mad About The Boy franchise
The new Bridget Jones sequel is reportedly driving celebrities crazy with its London filming schedule
But stars including Harry Styles (left) and Rami Malek (right), who live near the North London streets where filming takes place, are not so happy with the production.
Film executives reportedly slipped letters through the doors of local residents asking them to come and go only at certain times so as not to disrupt filming (Hugh Grant pictured during filming)
In the new film, Bridget has a fling with Rockstar and gym teacher Mr Walker, played by 12 Years A Slave actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, and her on-again, off-again relationship with Hugh Grant’s Daniel Cleaver is rekindled.
Chiwetel, 46, was spotted filming scenes last week, meaning only Hugh and Colin Firth – who has a small role in the film as the late Mark Darcy – have yet to be spotted in character.
Renee and Leo were spotted filming together on May 18. The hilarious scenes show Bridget getting stuck in a tree in Hampstead Heath.
An onlooker said: ‘Leo and Renee seemed to be having a great time. There was a lot of giggling, they seemed to be getting along really well.’
Bridget Jones filming comes shortly after fans excitedly announced that the beloved character would be returning to the big screen.
Renee first appeared as Bridget in 2001’s Bridget Jones’ Diary and returned in 2004’s Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and 2016’s Bridget Jones’ Baby.
A source said: ‘It’s like they’re being held hostage by Bridget – and it’s driving everyone crazy’ (Isla Fisher pictured)
The most recent film, released in 2016, saw Bridget shocked to discover she was pregnant, ending with her marriage to Mark, the baby’s father
The film was officially confirmed in May, when Renée and Hugh Grant’s comebacks were made official – after the death of his love interest character Daniel Cleaver was faked in the 2016 third installment.
The fourth film in the franchise, based on the books by Helen Fielding, will be released by Universal Film on Valentine’s Day 2025 on the American platform Peacock, while the film will be released in theaters internationally.
Bridget creator Helen Fielding has also been spotted filming as she prepares to say goodbye to her beloved character.
Last month it was revealed that Bridget’s obsession with losing weight would be ‘downplayed’ in the film amid fears it would have a bad influence on her.