Timothée Chalamet plays a young Willy Wonka in Paul King’s latest
Before Charlie Bucket, the golden tickets, and the sprawling factory we all grew up with, Willy Wonka had to start from somewhere.
‘Wonka’ starring Timothée Chalamet and directed by Paul King, explores Willy Wonka’s humble beginnings, from his discovery of chocolate to the opening of his first shop. But the journey as it seems is no easy feat as his efforts are set to be challenged by the Chocolate Cartel – a likely group of wealthy executives who have established a monopoly on chocolate for themselves.
A visionary in the realm of desserts and business, Wonka is by all means no slouch, but he undoubtedly cannot succeed on his own. Helping him achieve his dreams for one are the iconic Oompa-Loompas – the first we’ve seen as of yet, played by Hugh Grant. And perhaps the film will also go into detail concerning out chocolate magician’s first encounter with them.
Starring alongside Chalamet are Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Olivia Colman, Natasha Rothwell, Rich Fulcher, Rakhee Thakrar, Tom Davis, Hugh Grant, and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.
‘Wonka’ is written by Simon Farnaby and King, with Michael Siegel, Cate Adams, Rosie Alison and Tim Wellspring acting as executive producers. Included are director of photography Chung-Hoon Chung, production designer Nathan Crowley, editor Mark Everson, costume designer Lindy Hemming, and composer Joby Talbot (the “Sing” films). Neil Hannon from ‘The Divine Comedy’ is writing the original songs for the film.
‘Wonka’ is set to open in theaters and in IMAX internationally in December 2023.
The film’s official synopsis reads:
“From Paul King, writer/director of the ‘Paddington’ films, David Heyman, producer of ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘Gravity,’ ‘Fantastic Beasts’ and ‘Paddington,’ and producers Alexandra Derbyshire (the ‘Paddington’ films, ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’) and Luke Kelly (‘Roald Dahl’s The Witches’), comes an intoxicating mix of magic and music, mayhem and emotion, all told with fabulous heart and humor. Starring Timothée Chalamet in the title role, this irresistibly vivid and inventive big screen spectacle will introduce audiences to a young Willy Wonka, chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time—proving that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible.”
Watch the trailer for ‘Wonka’ below.
