Among countless fans who cherish Paddington Bear, Michael Bond's marmalade-loving character epitomizes the quintessence of British courtesy and restraint – making this new portrayal as a substance-using, foul-mouthed podcast host especially challenging.
However, the satirical overhaul of Paddington by the creators behind Spitting Image has turned out to be too much for the production company and estate that control the intellectual property.
The film producers, behind the hit 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 media, cites copyright and design right issues. The court filing omits the specifics of the claim, but it comes after Paddington's inclusion in the most recent Spitting Image YouTube program, titled The Rest Is Bulls*!t.
This production features segments about Elon Musk, Donald Trump and political figures. It also parodies ubiquitous podcasts where hosts talk about reaching goals.
The program is hosted by a typical Spitting Image-style puppet of Prince Harry and a dishevelled-looking Paddington. In the premiere, Paddington begins by proclaiming he doesn't actually talk like Ben Whishaw, the award-winning actor who portrays the character in recent movie versions.
He then switches to a generic South American accent before shouting: "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 starring role in the Netflix series Narcos, as Pablo Escobear. It is a joke. Laugh, muchachos."
At the end of the episode, a chaotic Paddington is shown inhaling a white powder before apparently losing consciousness.
The court action come three months after Avalon launched The Rest Is Bulls*!t, a poke at the successful stable of podcasts produced by various media companies.
The show's debut on YouTube in July signaled a new chapter for Spitting Image, which has a long tradition of upsetting its targets – typically politicians, rather than treasured children's characters.
Its latest version on YouTube has been adapted for the service. Shows are between 10 and 15 minutes, designed to appeal to viewers who browse suggested videos.
In the first show, watched more than 500,000 times, Paddington and Harry interview Musk, and Paddington encourages the conservative billionaire to go to Mars. "You are too much genius for one planet," he says. "As I say about my cocaine, it is only right to share."
He subsequently says the secret to his personal glow is "100% Peruvian, biodynamic, organic, catastrophic cocaine."
The duo also announce 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."
The film company declined to comment. A spokesperson for Michael Bond's estate said they were unable to speak as the matter was the subject of legal proceedings.
Avalon has been contacted for response.
