Timothée Chalamet has become one of Hollywood’s it-boys. 2023 is a big year for the young actor as he is headlining two major movies for Warner Bros. Discovery. First is Dune: Part Two, and the other is the role of Willy Wonka in the prequel film Wonka. Perhaps his career mimics the previous Willy Wonka actor’s career: Johnny Depp was thrust into fame when he was twenty-one after appearing in the 1984 slasher A Nightmare on Elm Street. Chalamet is only 27 (as of 2023), but with his current outstanding artistic output, he has certainly solidified his place in Hollywood as one of the most talented actors of his generation. And people were really glad to see him cast as Willy Wonka in the latest addition to the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movies, based on the book written by Roald Dahl.
Update July 17, 2023: This article has been updated following the recent trailer for Wonka with even more information regarding the upcoming film.
Wonka had its first trailer officially released. The movie is set to open in theaters on December 15, 2023, making it a high-profile film for the holiday season. The movie is both a reimaging of the classic Wonka character, detailing the origins of the fabled chocolate maker. It also will be a spiritual prequel to the original 1971 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Here is everything we know about Wonka.
Wonka Will Be a Prequel
When Ronald Dahl wrote the novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the character of Willy Wonka was an eccentric man, but readers never truly got his backstory. This was true in the sequel Charlie and the Glass Elevator; Wonka appeared in both novels, but he never had his moment to shine. Since the publication of Dahl's novel, there have been two film adaptations: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (starring Gene Wilder) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (with the aforementioned Depp). The Johnny Depp one attempted to give a brief origin for Willy Wonka, as the son of a dentist, but the many travels he went on that are referenced in the book are shown.
Wonka seeks to reclaim the titular character by giving him a story of his own. It will be considered a prequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and, given Chalamet’s age, the film automatically positions itself as within Wonka’s young adulthood. The trailer indicates the movie will show Wonka's early adventures and his early days setting up a chocolate factory. It is also notable the film shows three Candymakers that are called the "Chocolate Cartel" that stand to be in Wonka's way. While not confirmed, it is likely these are Wonka's competitors from the original novel: Fickelgruber, Prondnose, and Slugworth.
Contrary to popular belief, the original Oompa Loompas weren't forced to be at the chocolate factory. In the book, the Oompa Loompas willingly went with Wonka to work in the factory because the conditions they lived under were so terrible. They have their village within the factory and are paid in cocoa beans: their favorite food. The trailer shows Wonka interacting with an Ooompa Loompa, played by Hugh Grant. It maintains the classic orange face and green-haired version that was popularized in the 1971 film. Wonka originally does not recruit the Ooompa Loompas to work for him until after he is a famous chocolatier and shut his factory down, so the fact they are part of his origin makes for some interesting changes to the story.
Wonka Will Also Be a Musical
There is good news for people who enjoy a good musical, Wonka is going to be one! In the trailer, we can already see a lot of synchronized dance numbers and music being played out. And, of course, we will get to see some famous Oompa Loompa synchronized dance numbers. Furthermore, Neil Hannon of the Northern Irish pop band The Divine Comedy will be penning new lyrics for the movie.
While Wonka will be the first time Chalamet will be starring in a musical, the actor is more than prepared for the part. The actor did not need to audition for the part as the director Paul King saw an old high school performance of the actor dancing and won him over for the role.
Wonka Features a Star-Studded Cast & Crew
Warner Bros originally acquired the rights for the character in 2016 after almost a year of negotiations with Dahl’s estate. Moreover, the film's producers are David Heyman of Harry Potter fame and Luke Kelly. Director Paul King’s name began floating around the rumor mill in 2018, but he wasn’t confirmed to be the director until January 2021. He previously directed Paddington in 2014 and its sequel Paddington 2, in 2018. With how popular and beloved both Paddington movies are, it certainly lends a great deal of credibility to Wonka.
While Timothee Chalamett and Hugh Grant are the biggest names in the cast, it certainly features an all-star lineup. In the trailer, Chalamet is also joined by a young lady played by Calah Lane, who seems to be a friend and sidekick of the eccentric Wonka but whose identity is still unknown to the audience. Other big names attached include Olivia Colman, Rowan Atkinson, Matt Lucas, and Keegan-Michael Key. From what we can see in the trailer.
Wonka releases in theaters on December 15, 2023.