New WONKA Photos Feature Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa and Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka
Here’s a couple of new photos from the upcoming film Wonka, which serves as a prequel to the classic film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and a companion to Roald Dahl’s book.
One photo gives us a new look at Timothée Chalamet in the role of a much younger Willy Wonka and a first look at Hugh Grant as an orange Oompa Loompa, approximately 20 inches tall. In this scene, which I’ve seen, the Oompa Loompa tells Wonka that he’s "a perfectly respectable size.” This leads to a little song and dance.
The other photo shows Chalamet holding on to his costar Calah Lane as her character Noodle as she floats away.
During an interview with People, the film’s director and co-writer Paul King (Paddington, Paddington 2) praised Chalamet’s performance calling him a "phenomenal actor" who put his own spin on the iconic character. He added:
"I think what's so remarkable about his performance is not only that he is funny and mischievous and quite mysterious, as well — just like the Willy Wonka that people will know — but also, he brings such heart to the role and he's a brilliant actor. He's incredibly emotionally intelligent and can bring a great deal of emotional truth to the role."
I’m curious to see what audiences and fans think of Chalamet as Wonka. He’s trying to fill some big shoes with Gene Wilder previously playing the character, and Chalamet just can’t match that energy.
The new film will focus on a young Willy Wonka and his adventures prior to opening the world’s most famous chocolate factory. It’s also a musical and in regards to that King said, he saw making Wonka as a "real opportunity" for him to "celebrate old-time musicals, which I love and are very dear to my heart."
The movie also stars Mathew Baynton (Ghosts), Olivia Colman (The Favourite), Tom Davis (Paddington 2), Simon Farnaby (the Paddington films), Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water), Rich Fulcher (Marriage Story), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Paddington 2), Paterson Joseph (Noughts + Crosses), Keegan-Michael Key (Schmigadoon!), Calah Lane (The Day Shall Come), Matt Lucas (Paddington), Colin O’Brien (The Mothership), Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus), Rakhee Thakrar (Sex Education), Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean), Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), and Ellie White (The Other One).
The movie opens in theaters on December 15th.