Big names such as Olivia Colman, Rowan Atkinson, and Sally Hawkins will be joining Timothée Chalamet and Keegan-Michael Key in Wonka, a prequel to Roald Dahl's 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Wonka will be directed by Paul King, who is known for his work on the critically acclaimed children's films Paddington and Paddington 2, and began principal photography on September 29th in London. After making its new casting announcement, Warner Bros. has described the film as "an exploration of the vivid, mythical beginnings of the imaginative young inventor before he becomes the renowned scrumdiddlyumptious Mozart of chocolate.”
Although all of the roles are still kept under wraps, other than Chalamet's Willy Wonka, the additions to this already talented cast should have plenty of moviegoers' attention. Other than Mr. Bean's Atkinson, The Crown and The Favourite's Oscar-winner Olivia Colman (who was recently cast in the MCU's upcoming Secret Invasion series), and The Shape of Water's Hawkins, other cast members who have hopped on board include Paddington and Paddington 2 alumni Tom Davis, Simoon Farnaby, and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Mathew Baynton, Jim Carter, and Rich Fulcher. But that's not all of King's Paddington crew that will be joining Wonka.
King will be co-writing alongside Paddington 2's Simon Farnaby, while Paddington and Harry Potter's David Heyman will serve as producer. Other members from his fan-favorite Paddington films that King will collaborate with include Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming (whose other notable works include The Dark Knight trilogy and Casino Royale) and editor Mark Everson. Seamus McGarvey (The Avengers, Atonement) will be the film's cinematographer, while Nathan Crowley (The Dark Knight, Interstellar, Tenet) has signed on as production designer.
Other than King's impressive filmography, as both of his Paddington films received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, the real focus will be on Chalamet's portrayal as the well-known eccentric owner of the famous chocolate factory. Chalamet, who will be starring in Denis Villeneuve's upcoming Dune epic, Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch, and Adam McKay's star-studded Don't Look Up, had his major breakthrough in 2017's Call Me By Your Name, for which he received his first Oscar nomination at the age of just 22.
His age shouldn't fool audiences, though. The young actor has been described by many of the directors he's worked with as being able to carry this rare maturity alongside his boyish mannerisms, an aspect to his acting that appears to be a perfect fit for Willy Wonka.
Wonka is currently scheduled to be released in theaters on March 17, 2023.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter