Get ready to be simultaneously relieved and amused: The great news is that we don't have to associate Colin Firth's silky smooth voice with an anthropomorphized bear that's been haunting our dreams since we first saw the #creepypaddington meme. The even better news is that Firth got in a saucy-ass pop culture reference while announcing his departure from the "Paddington" movie.

Yes, you read that right. Firth will no longer provide the voice of Paddington Bear in "Paddington," which is due in theaters Christmas Day of this year.

"After a period of denial, we've chosen 'conscious uncoupling,'" the actor said of his decision in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.

Unless Firth and Lady GOOP herself, Gwyneth Paltrow, share a life coach, we're pretty sure this was a not-so-sly nod to the way Paltrow announced her split from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. We're laughing, but we're also still pretty bummed about Martin and Paltrow, so take that as you will.

Both Firth and director Paul King said the decision to find a new voice for Paddington was mutual. Firth said that he still had faith in the movie, but that the bear "simply doesn't have my voice."

"I've had the joy of seeing most of the film and it's going to be quite wonderful," Firth said. "I still feel rather protective of this bear and I'm pestering them all with suggestions for finding a voice worthy of him."

"Paddington" is due in theaters Christmas Day.