Timothée Chalamet has already managed to become one of the big young names in Hollywood, and will soon be releasing two long-awaited films within major franchises. On the one hand, he will become Paul Atreides again in Dune Part 2 in November, and in December he will invade theaters again with the premiere of Wonka.
Far from being a new adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Paul King-directed film will work as a prequel to the 2005 movie directed by Tim Burton. In other words, Chalamet will be playing the young version of Johnny Depp's character.
It is not the first time, in fact, that the young actor has taken a role in the filmography of the veteran Hollywood star. Chalamet fulfilled the dream of several fans to see him wearing Edward Scissorhands' suit, or well his son's, for a Super Bowl commercial.
However, his involvement with the prequel has nothing to do with Depp, not even with Dahl. In an interview with Vogue Magazine, Chalamet revealed the emotional reason behind his decision to become the famous chocolatier and tell his story:
“To work on something that will have an uncynical young audience, that was just a big joy. That’s why I was drawn to it. In a time and climate of intense political rhetoric, when there’s so much bad news all the time, this is hopefully going to be a piece of chocolate.”
In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Willy’s past is briefly introduced in flashbacks, showing his broken relationship with his father. This will definitely be one of the most important parts of the prequel. The story will show how the character went from the son of a dentist who didn’t let him eat candy or chocolates, to becoming the owner of the most famous chocolate factory in the world.
Timothée Chalamet As a Symbol of Hope
Willy Wonka isn't the only Chalamet character who can become a light in the dark. Paul Atreides, the hero and protagonist of Dune, has that same goal and will prove it in the highly anticipated sequel to Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel.
In the first film, Paul arrives with his father and mother on Arrakis, a stronghold of the Harkonnen family for several generations, but which remains in the hands of the House of Atreides by order of the emperor. Soon, the newcomers will find themselves involved in a web of betrayal and deception that will lead them to question their trust in the emperor and those around them.
In Dune: Part Two, Paul Atreides will join Chani (Zendaya), who appears briefly in the first part, and the Fremen as he seeks revenge against the ones who destroyed his family. Paul must choose between the love of his life and save the fate of the universe, and finally take the role of hero.
Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Charlotte Rampling, and Javier Bardem will be returning along with Chalamet and Zendaya. The cast will also include Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Souheila Yacoub, and Tim Blake Nelson.