The writer and the actress are said to have lost touch after previously working together on the Bridget Jones films
PA
Well. This is all V. V. awkward. Bridget Jones’ Diary author Helen Fielding and Renee Zellweger – who played the character in two films – appear to have had something of a falling-out.
It means the third instalment of the hit book series is now in jeopardy with two different scripts – one starring Renee, the other potentially not – being developed.
Indeed, the English novelist, 55, appears to confirm the pair’s less-than-close relationship in the credits to her third Bridget novel, Mad About The Boy.
While the Oxford-educated scribe is quick to thank actor Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, both 53, who also appeared in the 2001 film and 2004 sequel Bridget Jones: Edge Of Reason, in the acknowledgements, she fails to mention Renee, 44.
Which, let’s face it, is a pretty telling omission. And according to my sources from the film set, there is little love lost between the pair.
PA
I’m told: “They didn’t really stay in touch after the last film, though Hugh, Colin and Helen all did and have a great working relationship. Everyone expected Helen to thank Renee but it wouldn’t have been sincere because they aren’t good friends.
“The main problem was that Helen, understandably, was very protective over the screenplay and how she saw the role of Bridget being played.
“But Renee had her own very definite views. There was simply a clash of working personalities.”
In the new novel, yo-yo dieting, Twitter-loving Bridget is now a widower of 51, with two young children.
She initially dates a toy-boy before finding love with a teacher at her son’s school.
Despite Mad About the Boy already becoming a bestseller, its future as a Hollywood film is in doubt.
REX
Rumours from LA suggest the novel has a major stumbling block – the killing off of Mark Darcy, who was played by Colin, 53.
Producers have yet to snap up the rights to the new novel but they have been working on an independent script called Bridget Jones’ Baby.
Written by Helen, it bears little resemblance to the latest novel.
However, according to US reports, there is a possibility another actress other than Ms Zellweger will play Bridget – something, presumably, Helen would not be adverse to.
That movie was originally scheduled to shoot in 2012 with The Full Monty director Peter Cattaneo at the helm, but production was abruptly halted.
Of the problems attached to the making of the film, Colin quipped at the time: “You might be seeing Bridget Jones’ granddaughter’s story being told by the time we get there.”
Bridget Jones author Helen Fielding and Renee Zellweger"s relationship puts third film in jeopardy
