Los Angeles  - Renee Zellweger is to pack on the pounds once again to reprise her role as the love-challenged star British publishing executive in the Bridget Jones series.

The film is in its early stages, and there's no word on whether Colin Firth has re-enlisted to play Jones' true love Mark Darcy, or whether Hugh Grant will be back as the treacherous Daniel Cleaver.

The third movie is expected to follow Jones on her quest for a baby, a storyline that unfolded in 2005 in creator Helen Fielding's columns for The Independent newspaper in Britain. (dpa)