Is Hugh Grant in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy? The Actor claims the script made him cry

Hugh Grant recently expressed his admiration for the script of the upcoming movie Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, revealing that it moved him to tears. In a conversation on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show with Julia Cunningham on November 13, Grant explained that Helen Fielding's latest installment in the Bridget Jones series is humorous and profoundly emotional.

Hugh Grant will appear as Daniel Cleaver in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, marking his return to the beloved franchise. In the film’s trailers, Grant’s character is seen alongside Bridget, suggesting that Cleaver will play a role in supporting her as she navigates life as a single mother.

This involvement reflects his longstanding role in the series, adding a unique dimension to his character's relationship with Bridget after he was presumed dead in Bridget Jones’s Baby

The story draws from Fielding’s personal experience, focusing on Bridget as a widow raising two young children alone. While promoting his thriller Heretic on the SiriusXM’s show, Grant shared:

"I’m a harsh judge of scripts, and it was really good. Really moving as well as funny, because it’s based on Helen Fielding...This last book is based on her own experience of losing her husband and bringing up her kids alone."

"So it’s got a huge amount of heart. It made me cry," Grant said.

Grant admitted that reading the screenplay made him cry, as he discussed the depth of the storyline and its ability to blend humor with heart-wrenching themes. He reassured listeners, however, saying, "Have I made it sound too dark? It’s also extremely funny.

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The Story of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Scheduled for release on February 13 on Peacock, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy picks up four years after the death of Bridget’s husband, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), who was killed during a humanitarian mission in Sudan. Bridget (Renée Zellweger) is left as a single mother to two children, nine-year-old Billy and four-year-old Mabel.

The storyline follows her journey as she balances motherhood with emotional challenges, aided by her loyal friends and, notably, her former love interest, Daniel Cleaver, played by Hugh Grant. The official trailer offers glimpses of Bridget’s new life, revealing that she is "stuck in emotional limbo" while raising her children in the absence of Darcy.

Cleaver, Bridget’s charismatic former flame, plays a significant role, supporting her through her journey of grief and growth. Reflecting on his absence from the third installment, Bridget Jones’s Baby (2016), Grant explained that he initially considered participating but ultimately couldn’t envision his character, Daniel, in the storyline.

"That was when [Bridget] has a baby, and it had a great setup that she’s pregnant and doesn’t know whether it’s Darcy’s baby or Daniel’s baby," he explained. "But I could never work out how Daniel would handle either being the father or not being a father."

Despite spending "months and months" considering options with the production team, Grant decided to step away from the project. He recalled the difficulty of the decision, saying, "In the end, I said, 'I think I’d better sit this one out.'" It went on to receive positive reviews, with the film successfully progressing without his character.

In a lighthearted comment about the film, he hinted, "You just occasionally cut to two dead bodies," referencing Darcy and Cleaver’s absence from key events in the film’s story. According to Bridget Jones’s Baby, Daniel was initially thought to have perished in a plane crash but was later revealed to be alive.

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Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is set to debut on Peacock on February 13