Warner Bros. shared a release date and a brief synopsis for Wonka, a new prequel to Willy Wonka by Paddington director Paul King. According to the studio, Wonka will explore the titular character’s early years before becoming an eccentric candy maker, as the film will tell the story of “a young Willy Wonka and his adventures before opening the most famous chocolate factory in the world”. It will be open for the public to pick up their
golden theater tickets on March 17, 2023.
King will assume the director’s chair in the film while David Heyman, whose previous credits include the Harry Potter franchise and the Paddington films, will be producing the long-gestating Willy Wonka spin-off from a screenplay by Simon Rich, who recently wrote the Seth Rogen’s comedy, An American Pickle. All three names have been associated with the project since 2018.
At this stage, Warners has not shared any of their casting plans for the film, however, Collider has heard that the studio is interested in possibly recruiting Tom Holland or Timothée Chalamet for the lead role, playing the younger version of the fictional confectioner Roald Dahl. . The beloved character has already been portrayed on the screen by Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp.
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As one of Dahl’s best-known stories, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory have received two adaptations for the big screen over the years, with the latest coming from director Tim Burton, starring Depp as the title character. Taika Waititi is also known for developing two new animated series for Netflix, inspired by the extravagant world and colorful characters from the classic children’s book.
Adele Ankers is a freelance entertainment journalist. You can reach it at Twitter.
