[Trending News] Antonio Banderas’ Paddington In Peru Villain Steals One Of The Best Parts Of Hugh Grant’s Phoenix Buchanan

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Paddington in Peru!

Antonio Banderas plays a new villain in Paddington in Peruand his performance steals one of the best parts of Hugh Grant’s Phoenix Buchanan villain from Paddington 2. Paddington 2 has quickly become one of the most acclaimed movies of all time since its release in 2017, with the highly-anticipated follow up Paddington in Peru not releasing until early 2025. Now that the movie is here, a lot of comparisons are being drawn between the threequel and its eight-year-old predecessor, with one of Paddington in Peru‘s most interesting aspects being its new villain in the form of Hunter Cabot.

Paddington in Peru may be a sequel to the critically-acclaimed Paddington 2but there are a lot of changes. Firstly, Paddington in Peru continues the franchise without director Paul Kingwho directed the first two Paddington movies as well as Wonka. Paddington in Peru also recast Sally Hawkins’ Mrs. Brown, with her now being played by Emily Mortimer. While Hugh Grant’s Phoenix Buchanan does appear in Paddington in Peruit is only in a cameo role, with one of the biggest changes being the choice to have Antonio Banderas follow Grant up as the film’s new villain.

Antonio Banderas Gets To Play Multiple Characters In Paddington In Peru Thanks To Hunter’s Condition

He Plays Several Members Of The Cabot Family

Antonio Banderas isn’t the only villain in Paddington in Peruwith him being joined by Olivia Coleman’s twist villain, the Reverand Mother. Antonio Banderas’ Hunter Cabot isn’t even the only villain in Paddington in Peru to be played by Antonio Banderas, with the actor getting the chance to play multiple characters. In the film, it is explained that Hunter Cabot is the descendant of a long line of Cabot explorers who have died while hunting for the treasure of El Doradowith Hunter having to resist the urge to look for the legendary gold.

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Throughout Paddington in PeruHunter Cabot has visions of his ancestors, each of whom is also played by Antonio Banderas. Each of the Cabot treasure hunters features the actor donning a new costume and backstory, with him playing conquistadors, pilots, priests, and more. This allows Antonio Banderas to show off his acting range in a unique way, with Hunter Cabot’s condition allowing him to be just one member of Paddington in Peru‘s Cabot ensemble cast. While the other Cabot’s are not literally present in the world of Paddington in Perumultiple scenes still allow audience members to spend time with these characters.

Phoenix Buchanan’s Disguises In Paddington 2 Allowed Hugh Grant To Do The Same

He Did The Gimmick First

Paddington 2

9/10

Release Date: January 12, 2018
Runtime: 104 Minutes

This isn’t the first time that a villain in a Paddington movie has been able to play multiple characters, as Hugh Grant’s Phoenix Buchanan did the exact same thing in the previous film. Buchanan is an actor as well as a robber, with him using his mastery of disguise to hide his appearance and pull off his villainous plan. Throughout the movie, Phoenix Buchanan plays a nun, a burglar, a businessman, a knight, and even a dog, allowing Hugh Grant to show off his range as well.

This Phoenix Buchanan gimmick is a ton of fun, with it being one of the most memorable parts of Paddington 2. Hugh Grant’s range is one of the reasons why his performance in the sequel is so well-remembered, with it being core to his character. This is most likely why Paddington in Peru decided to repeat this trick with Antonio Banderas’ characteras the film knew that it couldn’t fail to live up to Hugh Grant’s villain character.

Antonio Banderas’ Paddington In Peru Villain Was Good, But Hugh Grant’s Was Still Better

Phoenix Buchanan Stays On Top

While Antonio Banderas was one of the most fun parts of Paddington in PeruHugh Grant’s villain in Paddington 2 was still better. Firstly, Phoenix Buchanan was just a more unique character. While Antonio Banderas playing multiple characters was funthis gimmick had already been done before in Paddington 2with the good Paddington movie constantly reminding viewers of the even better Paddington movie.

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On top of that, the multiple characters gimmick made a lot more sense for Hugh Grant’s character. Hugh Grant’s character is a theater performer, with it making perfect sense that Phoenix Buchanan would use these skills when pulling off a heist. Meanwhile, Hunter Cabot’s visions of his ancestors come from some sort of mental illness, with it feeling less connected to the main story that Buchanan’s characters were. Antonio Banderas does a great job, and Paddington in Peru is a great movie, but it still can’t compare to Hugh Grant in Paddington 2.

Paddington in Peru

8/10

Release Date: November 8, 2024
Runtime: 106 minutes
Director: Dougal Wilson
Writers: Mark Burton, James Lamont, Jon Foster, Michael Bond
Producers: Jeffrey Clifford, Tim Wellspring, Paul King, Ron Halpern, Dan MacRae, Naoya Kinoshita, Rosie Alison

Ben Whishaw

Paddington Brown (voice)
Hugh Bonneville

Henry Brown