'Wonka': Everything We Know So Far

Every childhood story at least features a passing mention of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film whether it be the 1971 version or the more recent one from 2005. Clearly, audiences felt like it was time for the character to be revamped or at least brought back. Cue the drum roll because there is still a lot of story to be told with Paul King’s Wonka. The movie is slated to release on December 15, 2023, ScreenRant reports.

A Warner Bros. undertaking, the film will focus on what happened to chocolatier Willy Wonka before he became famous. The Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp iterations only show him terrorizing little children out of his chocolate factory. This version will see Dune’s Timothée Chalamet frolicking as a young Willy Wonka trying to make it in the world. Chalamet posted a first look of the character from the production location in England, including Bath, London, and Oxford. Viewers can see him don the iconic hat and jacket worn previously by only two people. 

Why was the release date for Wonka postponed?

The film was originally slated to release on March 17, 2023. While the production company made no official statement why it was postponed for a December 2023 release, many suspect the COVID-19 pandemic may have led to significant delays in production. In this release date slot, it will be in the prime time for a usually competitive end-of-year box office. 

What is the plot of Wonka?

As briefly mentioned above, the film will be a prequel to Wonka’s accomplishments in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Many suspected that the film would take quite a dark turn considering the morbid past of the character, but the studio and cast assured audiences that they would keep it light. Additionally, the film is also expected to show us how the chocolatier fell in love with the sugary sweets and the craft itself. Since this film is also slated to be a musical, it would definitely be interesting to see Chalamet sharpen his vocal reeds and join in on some large dance sequences. There will be more light on this once Warner Bros. Pictures releases the trailer, and we can see exactly what the hype will be about. 

What is the cast of Wonka?

Call Me By Your Name star Timothée Chalamet will be leading the cast, followed by Key & Peele's Keegan-Michael Key, Heartstopper's Olivia Colman, Sex Education's Rakhee Thakrar, and the iconic Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson. The Shape of Water star Sally Hawkins is also part of the cast, and she previously worked with Wonka's director Paul King and screenwriter Simon Farnaby on the Paddington movies.

Wonka is set to arrive in theatres on December 15, 2023.