Wonka (film)

The story follows a young Willy Wonka and his adventures prior to opening the world's most famous chocolate factory.[4]

• Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka
• Keegan-Michael Key
• Rowan Atkinson
• Sally Hawkins
• Olivia Colman
• Jim Carter
• Matt Lucas
• Natasha Rothwell
• Tom Davis
• Mathew Baynton
• Simon Farnaby
• Rich Fulcher
• Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
• Paterson Joseph as Arthur Slugworth[5]
• Calah Lane
• Colin O'Brien
• Rakhee Thakrar
• Ellie White
• Murray McArthur[6]
• Tracy Ifeachor[7]
• Hugh Grant as an Oompa-Loompa[8]

Timothée Chalamet portrays Willy Wonka

In October 2016, Warner Bros. Pictures acquired the rights to the character Willy Wonka created by Roald Dahl, with a film in development from producers David Heyman and Michael Siegel.[9] In February 2018, it was announced Paul King was in negotiations to direct.[10][11] That same year, it was reported the studio's shortlist of actors to star as Willy Wonka included Donald Glover, Ryan Gosling, and Ezra Miller,[12] and it was revealed the film would serve as a prequel to the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.[13]

In January 2021, it was confirmed King would direct the film, now titled Wonka.[4] In May, Timothée Chalamet was cast in the title role and it was announced the film would include several musical numbers. It was also revealed the film would be using a screenplay co-written by his Paddington 2 (2017) collaborator Simon Farnaby; Jeff Nathanson, Simon Rich, and Simon Stephenson also provided additional literary material.[14][15] Tom Holland had also been a frontrunner for the role before Chalamet was cast.[16] In September 2021, it was announced Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman, and Jim Carter were among the newest additions to the cast, with Farnaby also set for a role.[17][18]

Principal photography began in the United Kingdom in September 2021,[19] with Seamus McGarvey set as cinematographer, Nathan Crowley as production designer,[20] Mark Everson as film editor, and Lindy Hemming as costume designer.[18] Filming took place in Lyme Regis and Bath,[21] as well as at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in Watford.[22][23] Filming also occurred at the Rivoli Ballroom in Brockley, London.[24] By December, McGarvey exited as cinematographer with Chung Chung-hoon replacing him.[25] Scenes were shot in Oxford in December and February.[26][27]

Neil Hannon, lead singer of the band The Divine Comedy, contributes original songs for the film.[18]

The marketing campaign from Warner Bros. Pictures for Wonka began on October 10, 2021 when Chalamet shared a photograph of himself in costume as Willy Wonka. The image was posted on Chalamet's Instagram with the caption "The suspense is terrible, I hope it will last," a reference to the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder as the title character.[28][29] The Guardian noted that the image was met with mixed reception online.[30]

On April 26, 2022, footage of Chalamet as Willy Wonka was shared during Warner Bros. Pictures' presentation at CinemaCon. It also featured a rendition of the song "Pure Imagination" from the 1971 film.[31][3] Deadline described the trailer: "Think Fantastic Beasts in regards to period (early 20th century), but so much more fun".[32] The following year at the convention, Warner Bros. screened a teaser trailer for Wonka, which also saw a first-look at Grant as an Oompa Loompa.[33] IndieWire praised Chalamet's transformation as Wonka remarking: "like the chocolate he concocts in this first trailer, it will make you fly".[34]

Wonka is scheduled to be theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures on December 15, 2023.[35] It was originally set for March 17, 2023.[4]

• Wonka at IMDb