One Wonka star reveals that Hugh Grant is not amused by his impression of him. Timothée Chalamet was a surprise choice to play magical candy maker Willy Wonka in the new prequel to Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Even more surprising was the casting of Grant in the unlikely role of Lofty, one of Wonka’s singing, dancing, lesson-delivering Oompa-Loompas.
With the Wonka release date fast approaching, another star of the film, Keegan-Michael Key, reveals a fun behind-the-scenes tidbit about his impression of Grant, and Grant’s unamused reaction to his efforts. Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Key related what happened when he tried to channel Grant, and came up short. Check out his remarks below (around 11:00 of the video clip):
I have been working on another British impression, which has been, because we’ve been doing press for Wonka, I have been working on my Hugh Grant. I like in the film when Hugh Grant says “I will have you know that I am perfectly respectable size for an Oompa-Loompa. There’s something very Posh about the way he speaks. And I love when he says, “Oh Oh Oh, I’m starting to dance now, and once we start, we can’t stop. You guys have seen that in the trailer so that’s good. … He’s heard me do it and I believe what he said to me was that I sound like him having a stroke.
Hugh Grant Hated Playing An Oompa-Loompa In Wonka (But He Still Looks Hilarious)
Casting the ever-grouchy Grant as a magical Oompa-Loompa was an inspired choice by Wonka producers. Grant unfortunately did not enjoy the experience of being in Wonka, largely due to all the green-screen work needed to transform him into a little, orange-skinned, green-haired man. As Grant complained recently to Metro.co.uk:
It was like a crown of thorns, very uncomfortable. I made a big fuss about it. I couldn’t have hated the whole thing more … Frankly, what I did with my body was terrible, and it’s all been replaced with an animator. [The dance sequence] should be fun, but that was done by the animator. It’s very confusing, with CGI now, you can’t tell what’s going on … I slightly hate [making films] but I have lots of children and need money.
Such curmudgeonly utterances have become part of Grant’s brand, so it should be no surprise to hear him griping about the uncomfortable process of acting in a film with a lot of CGI. It should also come as no surprise to hear that Grant dislikes co-star Key’s impression of him, and indeed it would be disappointing to find out that Grant actually liked the impression.
Miserable as Grant may have been during the making of Wonka, the result of all his hard work appears to be quite hilarious, at least going by the small taste audiences have been given of Lofty the Oompa-Loompa in trailers and clips. Should Wonka 2 ever happen, it might be difficult to convince Grant to come back for more discomfort, but if the money proves to his liking, he might just be enticed back for another round of misery.
Wonka
Wonka is a prequel film to Roald Dahl’s classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and follows the origins of the legendary candy maker. From his first encounter with the Oompa Loompas to founding his deliciously magnificent headquarters, Wonka explores the character in a new light. Timothee Chalamet assumes the role of Willy Wonka himself.
- Release Date
- December 15, 2023
- 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
- 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
