Wonka (March 2023)

[Simone]

OMG!!! The news I have known in my gut for a couple months now has been made official! Timothée will play a young Willy Wonka in Warner Brothers', Wonka, directed by Paddington director, Paul King. Timmy follows in the footsteps of Gene Wilder (1971) and Johnny Depp (2005) in playing Willy Wonka. This could be a franchise for Timmy as he can cover very young Wonka, and Wonka in his 30s before we enter in into the older world of the previous depictions of Wonka. I'm so excited!!!

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.

Timmy's tip!

https://www.instagram.com/p/COVJcgDLdCG

[Deleted]

I really wasn’t sure about the idea of a Wonka film, but now that this has been announced I am quite excited. I am just watching the Johnny Depp film as I haven’t seen it before, Tim Burton and a Roald Dahl story is a great combination!
I am excited to see Timothée singing and dancing in a film, and I hope there will be lots of velvet suits!!

[jennaj11]

Same here, actually. As I think of the character (well a young version of the character) I can picture him more and more in the role. And can't wait to hear him sing. I get that a lot of people think this movie is beneath him and maybe they'll turn out to be right. But not much we can do except see what happens when it's released. Maybe we'll be surprised and it'll actually be good.  It really depends on how it's done. It's way too early to tell yet.

[Simone]

There are snobs who think that Timmy should only be in certain kinds of films, namely Indie. But he's a leading man at only 25 years of age, and to help continue to build his career, he needs to diversify the roles he takes. He could have a career just like Hugh Jackman, multi talented throughout a wide, wide range of films. Hell, even Daniel Day-Lewis took on some eyebrow raising roles and did some singing and dancing. This is perfect for Timothée and if some people can't see that, tough shit for them and their small brains.

[chalametthegreat]

I am the King of mainstream films as I adore Disney, Marvel, Star Trek, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Dune. And Disney owns three of them now haha! So I LOVE that Timothee is playing roles in movies that I actually am more passionate about and enjoy watching again and again. Not that I didn't like his other roles, but you know what I mean!

I dont have a concern with Timothees acting or look for the role of Willy Wonka. He has the style and charm. But I do agree with some commentators who say ugh Hollywood is running out of ideas and do we need another origin story?! I totally sympathize with that view and want more creative storytelling. But then again you are talking to the man who is going to see Cruella on Friday with a friend. I am so easy to please!

In summary I am very excited for Timothee. The fact of the matter is that Hollywood is a ruthless capitalist system. And movies always need to make money for this system to continue. The only way nowadays that indie films get made is when global blockbusters make the studios, the directors, and actors hundreds of millions of dollars that can then sometimes be funneled into smaller more groundbreaking projects. People thus need to stop complaining so much bout mainstream fare and get real about how indie films are made and sold. Just because something is popular does not mean it is less worthy of critical praise.

Finally so long as Wonka does not interfere with the filming of Dune: Part II, whenever that is but hopefully next year, I am thrilled with Timothees Wonka role. To watch his star rise and glow brightly has been so cool!

[Simone]

Well chalametthegreat, funny you mention about how this could interfere with Dune II, which hasn't been greenlighted yet. According to the Hollywood Reporter article, link below, negotiations were off and on for Wonka due to schedule conflicts. Timmy is THAT busy that negotiations dragged on. But he signed last week. Filming will begin in September! The same time his Met Gala co-hosting duties, Venice Film Festival premiere of Dune, and Dune opening in the EU 15 Sept, and in the US, 1 October. He's going to be so damn busy this fall.

[Simone]

Here's a video that accompanied the above article.

[tracyrcat]

I haven't watched any of the 2 previous versions.  But I am still excited about this.  This seems like a good fit for Timothee.  And Timothee has done so much drama/heavy drama, I like the fact that this may be a more fun role for him, along with singing and dancing.  I was on a forum where everyone loved the Gene Wilder version and pretty much hated the Depp/Burton version.  It is very hard to re-do a classic, which it seems the Wilder version was? Maybe I'll give it a watch. 

So it seems he'll start filming this in September. And I heard Mangold is filming Indiana Jones July-October.  So maybe the Bob Dylan move will be sometime in 2022 - can't wait for that one!

[Simone]

Tracy do please watch both versions, they're so different, but both are so funny and great. I don't have a preference for Wilder or Depp, I simply enjoyed them both, and now Timmy is going to play young Wonka.

ps. it's popular to shit on Depp these days, the man is a great actor and his Wonka was darker than Wilder's, thanks to Tim Burton.

[chalametthegreat]

Simone, in light of what you said, I am guessing Dune II filming maybe maybe maybe most of 2022 and then London play 3rd or 4th quarter 2022 after the filming completes. If we are going to get Dune Part II at all, I cant imagine the studio wanting to wait to film until 2023 or later so as to keep the anticipated franchise momentum going from the first movie. I think the first movie is going to be a genuine hit ... I just feel it!

Tracyrcat, the Gene Wilder musical is definitely the classic. And the reason why is because just like The Wizard of Oz for decades and still today, television channels kept repeating the movie to kids and families across generations. I have seen the movie so many times on television that I have never needed to own the DVD or bluray. I think you should still see both movies to compare but start with the classic.

I was in college when the Johnny Depp version came out. It is amazing to reflect upon due to the troubles he is facing right now but Depp was THE MALE STAR a lot of my friends and I idolized in the 2000s. He was just SO COOL! Pirates of the Caribbean had also come out my senior year in high school and my friends and family loved it. Depp was at the height of his mainstream powers. And while Tim Burtons Wonka has some great moments ... Christoper Lee and Helena Bonham Carter and Freddie Highmore all give memorable performances... it doesnt have the lasting cultural appeal that Gene Wilders version does. But I still think it is a good film ... just a different experience.

Burtons movie definitely has heart especially during the last act. I think Depps Wonka is maybe a little too creepy, broken and aloof for many people to relate. While Wilders Wonka was certainly eccentric, Wilder was such a genius actor and played Wonka with a twinkle in his eye and with some really wry humor. I would want to tour a chocolate factory with Wilders Wonka and not necessarily Depps. I also always tear up at the end of Wilders version when ... well you need to watch.

I suspect if we are getting a young Wonka musical version the movie will draw more from Gene Wilder than Johnny Depp. Which makes sense due to which movie the majority of people seem to love today. Just watch Wilder sing Pure Imagination in his factory and tell me you aren't transported or moved by that song!

I pray Timothee does well in this movie but there is a risk to playing this part no doubt about it. He doesnt need to eclipse Wilder. But maybe he can give us an entertaining journey like the Wicked musical does for the Witches of Oz.

[jennaj11]

I think some people are seeing this as a remake and not an original movie. And yes, while the character of Willy Wonka isn't new, this version of it hasn't been told before. So technically it's an original story of when he was young before the original Willy Wonka movie took place. I think Timmy is so talented that he can pull this role off with no problem. He really is such a versatile actor. I mean, just think of the roles he's done so far and how different they've been from one another. I'm glad he'll get to show off his singing and dancing skills. I personally can't wait to see it.

[tracyrcat]

Yes, it is really not a remake but an origin story, about his early life. So not the same as Wilder or Depp's movies but of course, Timothee will be compared to both and their versions.

[Deleted]

I watched the Johnny Depp version last night and thought his Wonka was a very good imagining of a Roald Dahl character, his adults are often creepy and weird, which was one of the things I loved about his books growing up.
I haven’t seen the Paddington films, but Paul King also directed one of my favourite comedy programmes, The Mighty Boosh, which was wonderfully weird, I hope the story they come up with for Wonka isn’t too sugar coated (pun intended!).
I like the suggestion that it could be like Wicked was for the Wizard of Oz.
One positive of people being against this film or Timothée in the role is that hopefully they will be even more impressed with him when he completely blows them away with how good he is!

[Simone]

Wonka will begin filming in September and that will probably take 3 months, so he'll be booked with that for the rest of the year. Initial responses to this castng announcement shows how low people's reading comprehension is. It was made clear in articles that Timmy will be in a prequel playing a young Wonka, and there will be no candy factor or oompa loompas. I think Timmy's Wonka will be his and the director's own as to not compare him too much to either Wilder or Depp, but also have elements of both for familiarity. But I think a lot of people, especially the under 20 fans, for them, Chalamet will be their Willy Wonka.

[tracyrcat]

Even though it is a prequel, Timothee will still be compared to those 2. It is really inevitable. But since a lot of the elements in those movies will not be in this one, there won't be near as much to compare, so that is good. I am so glad it is a prequel not a remake of those movies. It will be an original movie.

Since this is filming Sept to the rest of the year, I imagine it will affect the PR for Dune (maybe The French Dispatch too). Timothee won't have the same availability. He'll be very busy with the filming for this movie since he will be the lead.