Willy Wonka is a character that has lived in the hearts and minds of children for
generations. This Christmas, Warner Bros hopes to keep that legacy going by revealing how the
famous chocolatier got his start. Here's what you need to know before heading to the theaters.
"Wonka" has been in the chocolate river pipeline for quite some time,
with trades first announcing the project back in 2016. It was eventually announced that the
movie would hit theaters on March 17, 2023, but in 2022, Warner Bros. decided to push
back a whole bunch of projects. According to Deadline, this was because they planned
on releasing a ton of VFX-heavy films and needed more time to get everything perfect.
As a result, Wonka was kicked back to Christmastime, with a
new release date of December 15, 2023. From what we've heard about the movie,
"Wonka" definitely makes more sense as a joyous, holiday-season, family flick. So we're
thinking the December date will be especially sweet for everyone involved with the film.
As "Wonka" is based on a children's book and hails from the director behind the first two
"Paddington" movies, don't expect an R-rated film. The 1971 classic earned a G, and the Tim
Burton remake got a PG. "Wonka" will follow in that tradition, with a PG for "some violence,
mild language, and thematic elements." We're assuming the violence will be very
cartoonish — perhaps even candy-related — so feel safe expecting a wholesome tale for all ages.
"You're gonna get more than a bonk on the head."
"I don't have a bonk on the head."
"What is with me today?"
While "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" introduced us to a candy man who spent years
locked away inside his factory — developing the most interesting confectionary treats
imaginable — "Wonka" will take a step back and look at the young inventor's rise to fame.
According to the plot synopsis, the movie introduces Willy Wonk and the
crazy ideas that he has about candy and changing
the world. Wonka believes everything is possible if you begin with a dream.
Of course, starting his chocolate shop comes with challenges, like dealing with a vicious chocolate
cartel or meddlesome police officers looking to spoil his fun. However, with a few impressive song
numbers and the help of some lovable friends, Wonka plans to charm everyone in his way.
In the early stages of "Wonka," Donald Glover, Ryan Gosling, Tom Holland,
and Ezra Miller were all considered to play the eccentric chocolatier. However, it was
eventually decided that Timothée Chalamet was the right actor to don Willy Wonka's iconic top hat.
Speaking about his character at 2023's CinemaCon,
Chalamet promised a new take on the classic character. While the actor believes that Gene
Wilder and Johnny Depp portrayed Wonka with a bit more cynicism, Chalamet says his candymaker
is "a Willy that's full of joy and hope and desire to become the greatest chocolatier."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm making chocolate, of course. How do you like it?"
"I don't know. I've never had it."
"You've never had chocolate?!"
So will be starring alongside Chalamet? Sally Hawkins is playing Willy Wonka's mother. This will
mark Hawkins' third collaboration with "Wonka" director Paul King, as she previously starred in
both of his "Paddington" movies. Paterson Joseph will reportedly be playing Arthur Slugworth,
a rival chocolatier, and you've no doubt seen Joseph before in projects such as "The
Leftovers," "Æon Flux," and "Law & Order: U.K." We also know that Olivia Colman of
"The Favourite" is set to star, and we can also expect to see Mr. Bean himself, Rowan Atkinson.
Perhaps most interestingly, rom-com legend Hugh Grant will be playing an Oompa-Loompa.
Famed comedian Keegan-Michael Key will also appear, as will Jim Carter
of "Downton Abbey," and Matt Lucas of "The Great British Bake Off." Audiences
will also get to see Calah Lane of "The Day Shall Come" as Wonka's young friend, Noodle.
In "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent," Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal
both come to the consensus that "Paddington 2" is the greatest movie of all time. After all,
the film famously has a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, marred only by negative reviews
from two rogue critics. There have been entire video essays dedicated to the movie's charm,
whimsy, and heart, so whoever directed this film sounds like
he would be the perfect pick to helm a movie about a free-spirited candymaker.
And that's exactly who's directing the upcoming Willy Wonka prequel. We're talking about Paul
King, the man who made us all crave marmalade sandwiches with the two "Paddington" films. In
addition to introducing us to the world's most delightful bear, King has also worked on some
truly unique British comedies, including "Garth Marenghi's Darkplace" and "The Mighty Boosh," so
the man also knows how to make things really weird and really British. Speaking with The
Hollywood Reporter, "Wonka" star Keegan-Michael Key praised King's take on the material, saying,
"Paul King ... is a delightful human being who has this wonderful,
childlike heart. He was the perfect person to direct the project."
King is also co-writing the picture, along with Simon Farnaby. The two previously
collaborated on "Paddington 2," so these filmmakers work together extremely well.
Farnaby has also penned scripts for comedies "Mindhorn" and "The Phantom of the Open."
The original "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" boasts several remarkable songs,
including "Pure Imagination," a number performed by Gene Wilder that's widely considered one of the
all-time best movie tunes. Even "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" had its fair share of
musical moments, with the Oompa-Loompas carrying on the tradition of singing whenever a child is
punished for their bad behavior. But will the upcoming "Wonka" have any songs of its own?
As it turns out, there's going to be a ton of them. Speaking with British Vogue,
Timothée Chalamet revealed he's got a whopping seven numbers. Keegan-Michael Key confirmed
that with The Hollywood Reporter and added he's participating in two songs himself.
As for who's penning these tunes, that's none other than Neil Hannon, leader of the band The
Divine Comedy. Speaking to The Times, Hannon praised Chalamet's vocal abilities, saying,
"He's just a lovely boy, young and gangly. And he's got a very
nice singing tone, which is all I cared about."
If you want a taste of what the "Wonka" prequel has to offer,
perhaps it's time to check out the previous films set at the fantastical chocolate factory.
Of course, when it comes to cinematic takes on Roald Dahl novels,
they don't get any more classic than 1971's "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate
Factory." It includes Gene Wilder giving perhaps the most charming,
creepiest, and loveliest performance of his career as the titular candy man.
"Well, well, well, two naughty,
nasty little children gone. Three good, sweet little children left."
If you want a slightly more modern adaptation, then prepare to visit
the wild world of Tim Burton. The kooky auteur stamped his unique visual style on
the tale of Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket with "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,"
which features Johnny Depp putting his own spin on the top hat-wearing chocolatier.
As a prequel to one of the most beloved movie musicals of all time, "Wonka" will have its
work cut out for it in the music department. Many of the original songs in "Willy Wonka
and the Chocolate Factory" remain iconic half a century after its release. Back in May of 2023,
Film Music Reporter had an early scoop that the score of the new
film was being provided by Joby Talbot. He had previously composed scores for
such films as 2016's "Sing" and 2005's "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
Interestingly, Talbot is also a member of the band The Divine Comedy, fronted by Neil Hannon,
who is providing "Wonka" with its original songs. Unless the studio
decides to add a bunch of out of place top forty hits to the movie,
those songs and Talbot's score appear to be what we can expect on the "Wonka" soundtrack.
This will keep it in line with the classic musical sensibility of the original film.
"Wonka" is not without its controversies, starting with Hugh Grant as an Oompa-Loompa,
one of the lovable tiny humanoids whom Willy Wonka claims he took
in as refugees but has been accused of exploiting for cheap labor and macabre
rhymes. George Coppen is a British actor with dwarfism who told the BBC he would
have preferred to see a member of that community play the part instead. He said,
"A lot of actors [with dwarfism] feel like we are being pushed out of the
industry we love. A lot of people, myself included, argue that dwarfs
should be offered everyday roles in dramas and soaps, but we aren't getting offered
those roles. One door is being closed but they have forgotten to open the next one."
Coppen is referring to new sensitivities in Hollywood whereby filmmakers may be
reluctant to cast actors with dwarfism in roles like Oompa-Loompas or Snow White's
Seven Dwarfs. However, they remain equally reluctant to cast them in standard acting
roles that have nothing to do with their physical size. It's a thorny issue and
not one that's likely to be resolved any time soon, but you can expect some conversation and
discussion around it to continue as "Wonka" gets closer to its theatrical release.
Costuming is an important part of many feature films,
but for a fantasy musical like "Wonka," you can bet that the costumes are going
to serve an especially important role in the overall storytelling. Fortunately,
"Wonka" has veteran Lindy Hemming on board to design the film's costumes. She's served
the same role on plenty of memorable films, including "Paddington" and "Paddington 2."
Hemming has designed costumes for superhero movies like Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" trilogy
and the "Wonder Woman" films. She's also lent her talents to several "007" movies starting with
"Goldeneye" through "Casino Royale." And if you know anything about the "Wonka" source material,
you know that costuming, starting with Willy Wonka, can get pretty wild and unusual,
so this project should serve as a pretty great showcase for her talents.
No one will know whether "Wonka" is a genuine hit until it comes to theaters,
but a Deadline report has figures that show Warner Bros. has reason to be optimistic
about its prospects. Advance box office tracking data from The Quorum shows "Wonka"
on track to pull in between $20 million and $23 million in its opening weekend.
Unlike other box office tracking firms that release projections three
weeks before a movie's release, The Quorum specializes in numbers six weeks in advance,
and "Wonka" has plenty going for it heading into its holiday season opening.
"Wonka" opens on December 15, which means that it will likely do good business in the weeks
that follow. The Christmas season tends to be popular among movie going audiences celebrating
the holidays. Could "Wonka" have the kind of broad family appeal that allows it to
outperform early predictions? Time will tell, but things could go either way at this point.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Gallery Gourmet, my name is Willy Wonka."