While roughly a year away from its theatrical release, Timothée Chalamet's performance in Wonka is already garnering praise, this time from co-star Olivia Colman.
A prequel to Roald Dahl's 1964 beloved novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,Warner Bros.' Wonka will be helmed by Paddington and Paddington 2 director Paul King. The film will explore Willy Wonka's early years before meeting the Oompa Loompas and becoming the well-known eccentric owner of the famous chocolate factory.
During the premiere of her most recent release, Sam Mendes' Empire of Light, Colman spoke highly of Chalamet in the role, promising fans they will adore his portrayal of Willy Wonka. “He’s doing something different,” Colman told Variety. “It’s such a treat. He’s so beautiful on-screen. He’s magical.”
Colman's comments come just after their other Wonka co-star, Keegan-Michael Key, hinted at Chalamet's brilliant and confident performance as Willy Wonka. "There’s this wonderful effortlessness about how he plays Wonka, not to mention the fact that there’s this hopeful quality that he gives the character, a kind of indomitable quality that he’ll never quit, he’s always up for the next thing. He’s like, ‘OK, that didn’t work out? We’ll do this and we’ll try something else,’” Key explained to The Hollywood Reporter. "This kid, you know, he drips charisma and a wonderful confidence. He’s just a really delicious artist."
Before Chalamet was cast, other big names such as Ryan Gosling and Donald Glover were rumored to be in talks for the lead role. But looking at Chalamet's filmography in his young career, which includes starring in acclaimed films like Call Me By Your Name, Beautiful Boy, Little Women, Dune​​​​​​, and his most recent, Bones and All, as well as seeing the actor in costume as Willy Wonka (which harkens back to the same look and feel of Gene Wilder's 1971 portrayal), it seems like there is no one better to play the chocolatier.
Joining Chalamet, Colman, and Key in the upcoming musical are Mr. Bean's Rowan Atkinson, The Shape of Water's Sally Hawkins, Downton Abbey's Jim Carter, and Little Britain's Matt Lucas. King will be co-writing alongside Paddington 2's Simon Farnaby, while Paddington and Harry Potter's David Heyman will serve as producer.
Wonka is scheduled to be released in theatres on December 15, 2023.
Source: Variety