Timothée Chalamet Concocts a Chocolate Fantasy, Oompa Loompa Hugh Grant Dances in First ‘Wonka’ Trailer
Warner Bros. has released the first trailer for Paddington director Paul King’s take on Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka in Wonka, starring Academy Award nominee Timothée Chalamet.
Willy Wonka debuted in Dahl’s classic and best-selling 1964 children’s novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which follows Charlie Bucket, a poor boy who wins one of the coveted golden tickets that allows him to tour Wonka’s famous chocolate factory. This is the third film adaptation of the book after 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder as Wonka, and Tim Burton’s 2005 film with Johnny Depp.
Neil Hannon of the band The Divine Comedy wrote seven original songs for the film, which is a full blown musical and although we see several scenes of dancing and fantasy, we don’t get any tidbits of songs just yet. What we do get is our first look at Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa, much smaller than in previous versions but with the classic deep orange skin and bright green hair.
Starring alongside Chalamet are Calah Lane (The Day Shall Come), Emmy and Peabody Award winner Keegan-Michael Key (The Prom, Schmigadoon!), Paterson Joseph (Vigil, Noughts + Crosses), Matt Lucas (Paddington, Little Britain), Mathew Baynton (The Wrong Mans, Ghosts), Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water, the Paddington films, Spencer), Rowan Atkinson (the Johnny English and Mr. Bean films, Love Actually), Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), with Oscar winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite). The film also stars Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus, Insecure), Rich Fulcher (Marriage Story, Disenchantment), Rakhee Thakrar (Sex Education, Four Weddings and a Funeral), Tom Davis (Paddington 2, King Gary) and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Paddington 2, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Mary Poppins Returns).
Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2) and Paul King wrote the screenplay, based on a story by King and characters created by Dahl. Michael Siegel, Cate Adams, Rosie Alison and Tim Wellspring are serving as executive producers. King’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Chung Hoon Chung (Last Night in Soho, Ah-ga-ssi); Oscar-nominated production designer Nathan Crowley (Tenet, Dunkirk); editor Mark Everson (the “Paddington” films); Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming (the Paddington films, Topsy-Turvy); and composer Joby Talbot (the Sing films).
Warner Bros. will release Wonka only in theaters beginning December 15, 2023. Here is the first trailer.
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