(Updated 12/05/2023)
When it comes to chocolate makers who invite children into their candy factory in order to systematically upend their lives until only the most wholesome child remains and thereby wins ownership of said candy factory, Willy Wonka is certainly among the most prominent.
Wonka is the subject of two books by Roald Dahl, a beloved feature film adaptation starring Gene Wilder, and another feature film adaptation starring Johnny Depp. He’s known for his eccentricity, his team of little green-haired employees, his distaste for bad manners, and, of course, his delightful candy, which seems like the stuff of science fiction. (And often actually is.)
Now he’s getting a prequel. Welcome to WONKA. Here's everything we know about the sweet prequel so far — including the director, whose resume is among the primary reasons we're ready for this movie — and the latest trailer.
When Does Wonka Come Out?
Warner Bros. Pictures will release WONKA in movie theatres on December 15.
Watch the New Wonka Trailer
If you had any questions about how Timothée Chalamet would perform as a young Willy Wonka, this trailer has probably cleared everything up. The acerbic tone of Gene Wilder's performance is only very barely here, but this new trailer suggests a movie of large scope and with more surprises than the first teaser suggested.
What is Wonka a Prequel To?
While the Wonka character certainly originated in Roald Dahl's novel "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," the movie, WONKA, is explicitly a prequel to the 1971 movie WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, starring Gene Wilder.
So this movie focuses specifically on how Wilder's version of the famous chocolatier became a household name. The Tim Burton adaptation featured flashbacks that covered some of this material, but not related directly to the Gene Wilder movie.
Oh, and while we don't know all the precise details, WONKA — like the Gene Wilder movie from the 1970s — is also a musical.
Wait… Wonka Is a Musical?!
That's right! Marketing for the movie has kind of circled around the fact that the movie is a proper musical, complete with a vocal performance from Chalamet. Neil Hannon, the leader of the band The Divine Comedy, from Northern Ireland, wrote the new songs. And since this film is directly related to the movie starring Gene Wilder, it can use songs from that film. Which is why songs like "Pure Imagination" and "Oompa-Loompa-Doompa-De-Do" have already been heard in trailers. The movie has many more songs in store.
Who Is in the Cast of Wonka?
The big news about WONKA is that it stars heartthrob Timothée Chalamet as the young version of everyone’s favorite chocolate-making rascal. According to photographs, Chalamet looks good in the role. He’s young, wears the top hat well, and generally favors far more muted colors than the character will eventually adopt. Will Chalamet retain Wonka’s infamous mean streak and anger issues? We’ll just have to wait and see!
We know other cast members as well; we just have no idea who they are playing. Since this is a prequel, they’ll all be playing people we probably haven’t met before. In addition to Chalamet, the film will feature Sally Hawkins, Keegan-Michael Key, Rowan Atkinson, and Olivia Colman. That’s a pretty stacked cast.
We do know that Paterson Joseph plays the rival chocolatier Arthur Slugworth. And Hugh Grant plays an Oompa-Loompa, which is *chef's kiss*.
Who Made Wonka?
While Chalamet gets all the headlines, the film’s director is big news, too. That would be Paul King, the man responsible for the PADDINGTON movies, the second of which is high on the list of the most beloved films of the last decade or two. Given how King helped turn the Paddington movies into wonderful experiences, we have high hopes for WONKA.
And while there have been a few drafts of the script for this movie, the most recent WONKA draft — the one being filmed — was written by King and his PADDINGTON 2 co-writer Simon Farnaby. (King's co-writer will also appear in WONKA as an actor.)
Even if you have doubts about a Willy Wonka prequel, you cannot count Paul King out. He’s going to make something with a ton of charm and entertainment value.
WONKA opens on December 15.
All images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.