Summary

• Timothée Chalamet stars as Willy Wonka in the prequel, inviting audiences into a magical and nostalgic world based on Roald Dahl's beloved novel.
• The latest Wonka movie trailer reveals Willy's infamous chocolate factory and hints at deeper themes of class divide, staying true to the source material.
• The star-studded cast includes Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant (as an Oompa Loompa), Rowan Atkinson, and Sally Hawkins, adding to the anticipation for the film's December 2023 release.

The Wonka movie is a prequel to Roald Dahl's beloved 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and as the much-anticipated winter 2023 release date gets closer viewers are getting their first looks at Timothée Chalamet's version of the iconic chocolatier. While it's known that Wonka will focus on a never-before-seen period in Willy Wonka's history and provide him with an origin story of sorts, much still remains shrouded in mystery. As such, the Timothée Chalamet Wonka movie is the subject of intense speculation among Roald Dahl fans — as well as casual moviegoers who enjoyed both the Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp versions of Willy Wonka.

Timothée Chalamet (Dune) will be playing the titular character of Willy Wonka, the eccentric chocolate factory owner. Already there have been a few sneak-peeks and promotional shots released for the Wonka movie, and it's clear the world Warner Bros. is inviting audiences into is just as magical as Dahl's original book. Some show Chalamet in the characteristic brown top hat and long purple coat, the same look previously donned by Gene Wilder in 1971 and by Johnny Depp in 2005 in previous versions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Although much around the Roald Dahl musical is being kept under wraps there's still plenty to discuss when it comes to the 2023 Wonka movie.

The Latest Wonka Movie News

The most recent news on the 2023 Wonka movie arrived on October 13. Warner Bros. released their second Wonka trailer, and it gave viewers their first look at one of the most anticipated set-pieces in the film — Willy Wonka's infamous chocolate factory. At 2:43 the newest Wonka movie trailer was extensive, and despite WB. already giving plenty of teases around the movies aesthetic the most recent footage still managed to include plenty of reveals.

In addition to Willy's earlier inventions, the latest Wonka movie trailer also teased the story may be deeper than first appears. The Chocolate Cartel don't just have the monopoly on chocolate in the world of Wonka — they deliberately ensure it's a delicacy only for the rich. These themes of class divide resonate with the core message of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, in which Charlie Bucket defies the odds and wins a Golden Ticket in the single chocolate bar his family can afford to get him each year for his birthday. Warner Bros. previously hadn't teased the same thematic threads in the Wonka movie, but the fact they are is a welcome addition that will both enhance the movie and keep it spiritually true to the source material.

Wonka Release Date: When Is The 2023 Willy Wonka Movie Coming Out?

The Wonka release date is set for December 15th, 2023. Although its original release date was March 17th, 2023, no official statement has been given about the cause of the delays. The Wonka movie's later release date creates more time to build anticipation for the film, hopefully leading to a successful opening week at the box office.

Paul King's Wonka was confirmed to be in development back in October 2016 when Warner Bros. acquired the rights to the Roald Dahl character, with producers David Heyman (Harry Potter) and Michael Siegel (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) on board. It was announced that Paul King (Paddington) was in negotiations to direct Wonka in February 2018, and Timothée Chalamet was cast in the title role in 2021.

Wonka Movie Cast: Timothée Chalamet Is Willy Wonka, Who Else Is In It?

For many people, Timothée Chalamet will be enough of a draw to see the Wonka movie, although the Hugh Grant Oompa Loompa will also be a highlight. However, they're far from alone in the Wonka cast. Key & Peele's Keegan-Michael Key will play a policeman in the town Wonka looks to set up with shop, while Oscar-winner Olivia Colman plays another shop owner who warns Wonka of the town's strict rules. Iconic Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson plays a priest in the Wonka cast, while Sally Hawkins plays Willy's mother. Newcomer Calah Lane also has a large role as Willy's new friend who helps him on his mission.

All in all the cast of the Wonka movie contains a solid mix of established talent and relative newcomers. The full cast list for Wonka includes:

• Timothée Chalamet (Dune, Bones and All) as Willy Wonka
• Calah Lane as Noodle
• Hugh Grant (The Gentleman, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) as Lofty, the Oompa-Loompa
• Olivia Colman (The Crown, Heartstopper) as Mrs Scrubbit
• Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele, Schmigadoon!) as the Chief of Police
• Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean, The Lion King) as Father Julius
• Paterson Joseph (Peep Show, The Other Man) as Arthur Slugworth
• Matt Lucas (Little Britain, Doctor Who) as Prodnose
• Matthew Baynton (Peep Show, You, Me and the Apocalypse) as Fickelgruber
• Sally Hawkins (Made in Dagenham, The Shape of Water) as Willy Wonka's mom
• Jim Carter (Downton Abbey, The Good Liar) as Abacus Crunch
• Tom Davis (Murder in Successville, King Gary) as Bleacher
• Natasha Rothwell (Insecure, The White Lotus) as Piper Benz
• Rich Fulcher (Snuff Box, The Mighty Boosh) as Larry Chucklesworth
• Rakhee Thakrar (Sex Education, Eastenders) as Lottie Bell

Addtionally cast in the Wonka move in unknown roles are Isy Suttie, Tracy Ifeachor, Murray McArthur, Ellie White, Colin O'Brien, and Simon Farnaby in undisclosed roles.

Wonka Story: How Does It Connect To Charlie & The Chocolate Factory?

The Wonka story was revealed in the movie's first trailer, and it confirms it will be an origin story of the young chocolate maker. Wonka will follow Willy Wonka long before Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It s him at the point in his origin where he's returning from traveling the world and perfecting his skills in the making of chocolate, and needs to find a new home to start his candy empire. However, he finds that he faces many challenges, mostly from the so-called Chocolate Cartel who refuse to let anyone else sell chocolate in shops in their town.

The plot of the Wonka movie will also add varoius expected elements of the origin story of Wonka, many that were hinted at in Roald Dahl's novels but never expanded on. This includes him meeting his first Oompa Loompa as well as introducing this magical candy to the public — including ones that make people fly. There is also a brief hint at a sadness with Wonka's backstory involving his mother who he presumably lost and whose memory he carries with him on this grand adventure. Yet the whole story will be told with a light-hearted tone with Wonka's musical numbers also going back to the Gene Wilder original.

Wonka Trailer

The first Wonka movie trailer was released in July 2023, and laid out many of the finer points of the much-anticipated Charlie and the Chocolate Factory origin story. The trailer for Wonka begins with Willy Wonka's travels around the world and discovering all the amazing ways to make candy. However, not everyone in the chocolate business is as willing to share the magic of chocolate with the world, as Willy Wonka soon comes up against the restrictive Chocolate Cartel. Needless to say, the young Wonka is not willing to bow down to such bullies and pursues his dreams in spite of their oppression. It is all capped off with the Hugh Grant Oompa Loompa who looks to be a scene-stealing role.

The footage shows the movie is not taking this origin story too seriously with the elements of silliness such as the Chocolate Cartel serving as the villains of the story. The trailer also highlights Timothee Chalamet's performance as Wonka which looks to be charming and light-hearted. There are many who will always look at Gene Wilder's Wonka as impossible to top, but Chalamet does a good job of blending aspects of that version with his own take. Certainly, the Wonka trailer will pique the interest in this movie among audiences.