Timothée Chalamet has become one of Hollywood’s it-boys. Fresh off his recent appearance in Dune, Don’t Look Up, and The French Dispatch, Chalamet is currently at work on his newest role as Willy Wonka in the prequel film Wonka. Perhaps his career mimics the previous Willy Wonka’s 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 will be only twenty-five years old (as of the end of 2021), but with his current outstanding artistic output, he has certainly solidifed his place in Hollywood as one of the most talented actors of his generation.

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Wonka remains a highly anticipated movie and has been teased fervently by leaked set videos and first-look images. Many think that if the movie is successful, it could potentially lead to yet another franchise. Hollywood loves a good franchise nowadays, especially if the box office proves to be successful financially. And as Chalamet continues to build his fame and expertise, it seems likely that his dedicated fanbase will play a factor in the movie’s success. The prequel has a planned March 2023 release date so far. Until then, here’s everything we currently know about the upcoming Wonka movie.

Wonka Will Be a Prequel With Oompa Loompas

     Wolper Pictures, The Quaker Oats Company

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). Neither adaptation went deep into his backstory, but it’s mentioned he was the child of a dentist forbidden from eating candy. 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.

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. If the Wonka film remains true to the storyline of the original book, this may be what we’ll see on the big screen.

Wonka Will Also Be a Musical

When it became known that Chalamet was Willy Wonka, it was confirmed that Wonka will be a musical with dance numbers. No official clips from the movie are out, but fans in England have spotted Chalamet sitting on top of a truck and lip-syncing to a pre-recorded track. This certainly keeps in spirit with the previous adaptations of Dahl’s story.

Wonka will be the first time Chalamet will be starring in a musical, so this is the perfect chance to prove he can act, dance, and sing. Furthermore, Neil Hannon, of the Northern Irish pop band The Divine Comedy, will be penning new lyrics for the movie.

Wonka Will Feature 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.

In September 2021, new members of the cast had joined the production: Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Coleman, and Jim Carter will all be supporting cast. Filming also began in September, and while information from Warner Bros. has been scarce, Chalamet kicked off the marketing campaign by posting a picture in the role.