Playing the titular character in Wonka fulfills a kind of childhood dream, according to the film’s star Timothée Chalamet. Directed by Paul King, Wonka tells the origin story of the titular chocolatier as he grows to create his chocolate empire. In addition to Chalamet, the film stars Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, and Keegan-Michael Key. Wonka is set for release on December 15.
Chalamet opens up about the utter joy he feels getting to play the candymaker. Per Variety, Chalamet spoke about his role at the Tokyo premiere of Wonka, saying that his role would have completely shocked his 10-year-old self who grew up watching “the Johnny Depp version of Willy Wonka.” As a result, he encouraged the audience to “follow your dreams” just as the movie reportedly promotes. Check out the full quote from Chalamet below:
Paul King wrote a beautiful script here, about a young Willy Wonka who follows his dreams. If you would’ve told me when I was 12 years old, when I was 10 years old watching the Johnny Depp version of Willy Wonka that I’d get to be here in Tokyo promoting this movie as Willy Wonka, standing next to Hugh Grant, I would’ve told you you were lying. So, I guess like the movie, follow your dreams.
How Will Timothée Chalamet Compare To The Two Previous Wonkas?
Unlike 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and 2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wonka is a sort of coming-of-age story not for the bearers of the golden ticket, but for Willy Wonka himself. Showing Wonka in his formative years, the Wonka trailer reveals Chalamet as a young Willy Wonka, inventive yet chaotic as he strives towards his dreams. This sets the tone of Wonka apart from its predecessors, as instead of children enchanted by magic, Wonka is a young man enchanted by the idea of creating magic.
As such, Chalamet will be the youngest person to take on the character, as the actor will be 27 years old when Wonka is released. Gene Wilder and Depp were 38 and 42, respectively, when their Willy Wonka films were released. Their junior, Chalamet will provide a much younger energy to the role.
Even though Wonka is a far different interpretation of the role, Chalamet will have massive shoes to fill taking on the titular character. Both Wilder and Depp were iconic in the role in their own rights, providing interpretations of the character that were alluring (whether that be through sage enchantment or Depps’ disconcerting appeal). Chalamet’s version possesses a rare jejunity that neither of his predecessors had. The success of this depiction remains to be seen as Wonka approaches its December release date.
Wonka
- Release Date:
- 2023-12-15
- Director:
- Paul King
- Cast:
- Sally Hawkins, Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key, Rowan Atkinson, Timothee Chalamet, Jim Carter
- Genres:
- Family, Adventure, Comedy
- Writers:
- Paul King, Simon Farnaby
- Summary:
- Warner Bros. announced that the studio will release Wonka, a prequel film set in the years prior to the opening of Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory. It will follow the adventures of a young Willy Wonka, a character who originated in Roald Dahl’s 1964 book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Willy Wonka has since been adapted to live-action, with Gene Wilder’s 1971 portrayal of the character perhaps being the most popular.For now, the plot details for Wonka are relatively scarce. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available. The film will be directed by Paul King.
- Budget:
- $125 million
- Studio(s):
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Distributor(s):
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- prequel(s):
- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
