Bridget Jones author Helen Fielding is feeling guilty about killing off the beloved character Mark Darcy in the fourth installment of the franchise, “Mad About the Boy.” The character, played by British actor Colin Firth, 64, only appears in Bridget’s mind in the new movie. At the New York City premiere of “Mad About the Boy,” Fielding humorously remarked to PEOPLE that she will “never forgive” herself for “killing” him off. “I didn’t mean to and he’s actually still alive,” the 66-year-old author joked at the event, which took place at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Wednesday, February 13. “It was just the character that was killed, and it wasn’t my fault really. It was just what happened in the story,” Fielding added about Mark, who tragically died four years prior during a humanitarian trip to Sudan.
“Mad About the Boy” marks the release of the fourth and final installment in the much-loved Bridget Jones book series. The first book, “Bridget Jones’ Diary,” was published in 1996, and audiences first saw Renée Zellweger portraying Bridget on the big screen a decade ago. Fielding shared with PEOPLE that she now envisions Oscar-winner Zellweger, 55, and Hugh Grant, who plays the charmingly flawed Daniel Cleaver, in her mind when she writes the books. “They’ve all got completely jumbled up together,” she remarked. “I’m really fond of all of them. And when I write Bridget now, I write for Renée.” She further emphasized, “No one writes Hugh–Daniel’s lines better than Hugh.”
Meanwhile, Texan actress Zellweger also spoke to PEOPLE before the premiere on February 12, explaining that this iteration of Bridget Jones feels different and more emotional than the previous ones. “We were familiar with how emotional the material was because the novel had been out for a while,” Zellweger reflected, acknowledging the significance of Darcy’s death. “But the script was so beautifully written that the emotion just sneaks up on you. You think you’re heading in one direction that feels familiar, and then, yeah, it just gets you,” she continued. Zellweger also disclosed that she shed “real tears” while filming.
She is not the only cast member who found it hard to contain their emotions during “Mad About the Boy.” In a November 13 appearance on SiriusXM’s “The Jess Cagle Show” with Julia Cunningham, Grant, 64, revealed he cried when he first read the screenplay. “It’s got a huge amount of heart,” he stated, highlighting the depths of emotion contained in the story.
The significance of Fielding’s regret over Mark Darcy’s fate highlights the deep connection readers and audiences have with the character played by Colin Firth. As movies and stories evolve, the impact of beloved characters persists, evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing for the laughter and love they brought to life. With “Mad About the Boy” being positioned as a bittersweet farewell, both characters and fans will undoubtedly feel the lingering effects of this journey.
