With his role as Paul Atreides in the budding cinematic franchise, Dune, Timothée Chalamet has brought and will continue to bring a book character to life. However, not long after he reprises his role as the character in Dune: Part Two, he will breathe life into another book character.
This time, the 27-year-old will star as Willy Wonka in the musical fantasy film Wonka – a prequel to the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The film itself was based on the novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.
On Tuesday, we got our first glimpse of Chalamet as the eponymous character in Wonka’s official trailer.
The trailer opens with a scene of Wonka exploring the world as he looks to “perfect” his chocolate-making craft. His dream is to establish a chocolate factory and share his gift with the world. However, his path is filled with hurdles. Loads of it. For him to succeed, Wonka has to take on the so-called “chocolate cartel” – a cultlike group of people who run the chocolate industry with a vicelike grip and crush any would-be competitor like a gnat.
Wonka isn’t one to be easily deterred, though. We see him chase his dreams relentlessly, despite opposition from the cartel who, we have to admit, have good reason to resist him: Wonka’s chocolate is irresistible and poses the risk of running them out of business.
We also witness Wonka’s first meeting with an Oompa-Loompa – a race of people native to Oompa-Loompa land who are integral to his eventual success as a chocolatier.
When Chalamet was cast as the character in 2021, many people questioned the decision. The actor initially made his name in Hollywood by starring in grim, serious films, which now includes Dune and fans doubted if he could pull off an energetic and silly character like Wonka.
With this trailer, Chalamet has put all such fears to bed. His performance is assured, confident, and his energy bustling. His singing and dancing prove he’s not a one-trick pony and that he has it in him to meet the demands of different roles.
Wonka is chockfull of many of Hollywood’s finest talents. Apart from Chalamet, the film stars Hugh Grant, Emmy Awards nominee Keegan Michael-Key, Calah Lane, Tom Davis, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Oscar Awards nominee Sally Hawkins, and Oscar Awards winner Olivia Colman.
Paul King, the British writer and director best known for his work on the Paddington films, wears the director’s hat for this film. He also co-wrote its screenplay with Simon Farnaby, an old collaborator. David Heyman, Alexandra Derbyshire, and Luke Kelly produce the prequel film.
By the way, Dune: Part Two got a new trailer recently and it has us excited and impatiently awaiting its release in November. Also, Chalamet’s Wonka is not the only Roald Dahl adaptation in the works. In 2021, Netflix purchased the rights to the author’s works and, at the moment, is making a television adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Wonka will premiere in theaters on December 13.
