HARRY POTTER's Imelda Staunton and Michael Gambon Lend Voices to PADDINGTON Movie

The Hollywood Reporter writes that just two two months before its Christmas premiere in the U.S., PADDINGTON has added two HARRY POTTER alums and British stage greats to its voice cast -- Imelda Staunton and Michael Gambon.

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From the beloved novel by Michael Bond and producer David Heymon (HARRY POTTER) PADDINGTON tells the story of the comic misadventures of a young Peruvian bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw) who travels to the city in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone, Paddington begins to realize that city life is not all he had imagined, until he meets the kindly Brown family who read the label around his neck that says 'Please look after this bear. Thank You' and offer him a temporary haven.

Staunton will play 'Aunt Lucy' with Gambon as Paddington's 'Uncle Pastuzo'. In the live-action cast are Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Peter Capaldi, Jim Broadbent and Nicole Kidman.

PADDINGTON will hit theaters in London on November 23 before its Christmas Day premiere in the U.S.

Staunton, who just appeared on the big screen in Pride and Maleficent, will next be seen in The Curse of The Buxom Strumpet and The Canterville Ghost. She portrayed 'Dolores Umbridge' in the Harry Potter films and is also known for her roles in Vera Drake, Shakespeare in Love and the TV series Little Britain, Big and Small, Cranford and Psychoville. Staunton appeared in the West End revival of Sweeney Todd opposite Michael Ball in 2012 and will star as 'Rose' in a revival of Gypsy at the Chichester Festival this month.

Aside from his role as 'Dumbledore' in the Harry Potter series, Gambon has appeared on the big screen in Dancing at Lughnasa, Sleepy Hollow, Path to War, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Quartet, and will soon be seen in the upcoming adaptation of J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy. Having appeared in regional and London theatre throughout his career, Gambon's most recent West End role was in All That Fall in 2012.

Pictured: Imelda Staunton in GOOD PEOPLE last spring. Photo by Manuel Harlan.

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