Wonka (Chalamet) (December 15, 2023)

EXCLUSIVE: Timothée Chalamet is ready to head to a world of pure imagination as the Oscar-nominated actor is set to star as the iconic inventor and chocolate maker in Warner Bros and the Roald Dahl Story Co.’s Wonka.

Based on characters created by Roald Dahl, the story will focus on a young Willy Wonka and his adventures prior to opening the world’s most famous chocolate factory.

Sources also tell Deadline that Wonka will mark the first time Chalamet gets to show off his singing and dancing skills with several musical numbers set to appear in the film.

He’s been the top choice for some time but scheduling was a hurdle that had to be overcome as training for those numbers is included in the prep for this film.

Paul King will direct from the screenplay he wrote with Simon Farnaby (with prior writers including Simon Rich, Simon Stephenson, Jeff Nathanson and Steven Levenson). David Heyman is producing via his Heyday Films. Luke Kelly is also producing, with Michael Siegel and Alexandra Derbyshire executive producing.

This marks the third time WB has taken on the Wonka story, with the previous versions being adaptations of Dahl’s classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The first one, in 1971, starred Gene Wilder as Wonka, and the second in 2005 starred Johnny Depp in the role. While plot details are unknown, the new pic will be an origin tale of the character and mark the first time Charlie Bucket will not be featured.

For Chalamet, the Oscar nominee has avoided the tentpole pic over the years with his upcoming Dune adaptation being his first true venture into the genre. This film will also give him a possible franchise was well. Later this year, Chalamet will be seen staring in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune for Warner Bros and Legendary, Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch opposite Frances McDormand, and Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence.

You no longer have to rely on pure imagination. Timothée Chalamet has posted a first look at his Willy Wonka interpretation for the forthcoming film on the future chocolate factory proprietor.

Chalamet has 13.6 million followers on Instagram. The new film, titled Wonka, is focused on a young Willy Wonka and his adventures before he created the chocolate factory. Chalamet is expected to showcase his singing and dancing skills for the first time in the prequel.

Paul King will direct from the screenplay he wrote with Simon Farnaby (with prior writers including Simon Rich, Simon Stephenson, Jeff Nathanson and Steven Levenson). David Heyman is producing via his Heyday Films. Luke Kelly is also producing, with Michael Siegel and Alexandra Derbyshire executive producing.

This marks the third time WB has taken on the Wonka story, with the previous versions being adaptations of Roald Dahl’s classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The first one, in 1971, starred Gene Wilder as Wonka, and the second in 2005 starred Johnny Depp in the role. While plot details are unknown, the new pic will be an origin tale of the character and mark the first time Charlie Bucket will not be featured.

Chalamet can be seen in the upcoming Dune, out later this month.

Timothée Chalamet is taking viewers to a world of pure imagination. Warner Bros. has released the official trailer for “Wonka,” starring Chalamet as the eccentric chocolatier created by renowned author Roald Dahl.

The musical fantasy film follows the adventures of a young Willy Wonka, including how he met the Oompa-Loompas.

Along with Chalamet, the film stars Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins, Keegan-Michael Key, Matthew Baynton, Matt Lucas, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Natasha Rothwell, Simon Farnaby, Paterson Joseph, Tom Davis, Rakhee Thakrar, Justin Edwards, Colin O’Brien, Ellie White, Freya Parker and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.

“Wonka” is directed by Paul King, from a script he co-wrote with Simon Farnaby. Michael Siegel and Alexandra Derbyshire executive produce, while Luke Kelly and David Heyman via Heyman Films serve as producers on the film.

Back in April, Warner Bros unveiled new footage of “Wonka” at its CinemaCon presentation. It’s here where Chalamet revealed that he actually swam in a pool of real melted chocolate during the film’s production. The trailer features Chalamet tap dancing on a cafe tabletop while leading a chorus of umbrella-wielding dancers, as well as the appearance of a golden ticket. Chalamet has seven musical numbers.

Willy Wonka debuted in Dahl’s 1964 children’s novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which follows Charlie Bucket, a poor boy who wins a golden ticket to tour Wonka’s famous chocolate factory. Film adaptations include 1971’s “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” starring Gene Wilder as Wonka, and Tim Burton’s 2005 film with Johnny Depp in the iconic role.

Chalamet told Vogue magazine earlier this year that he was drawn to playing Willy Wonka for the simple reason of making a movie for a younger, more optimistic demographic of moviegoers.

“To work on something that will have an uncynical young audience, that was just a big joy,” Chalamet said. “That’s why I was drawn to it. In a time and climate of intense political rhetoric, when there’s so much bad news all the time, this is hopefully going to be a piece of chocolate.”