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Timothee Chalamet to play young Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory prequel and it’s the most perfect casting

Timothee Chalamet could play Willy Wonka in a new film and is this not the most perfect casting ever?
Timothée is set to be the third movie Willy Wonka (Picture: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Allstar/Warner Bros/LA Pictures 2)

Timothée Chalamet is about to be reborn as an icon of our imaginations with the news that he will be stepping into the shoes of Roald Dahl’s fabled chocolatier Willy Wonka.

The Oscar-nominated actor will also have the chance to do a little creating himself in the role, as the film will explore the young inventor’s life before he opened his world-renowned chocolate factory or ever met Charlie Bucket.

According to Deadline, this Willy Wonka prequel is set to be a musical treatment once more like 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder, so Timothée will be airing his musical talents to the world for the first time.

The film is a co-production between Warner Bros – its third adaptation of the story, having also been responsible for Tim Burton’s 2005 take with Johnny Depp – and The Roald Dahl Story Co., so it should be set to follow more in the spirit of Dahl’s original characters than in the 1970s.

The author infamously hated the first musical adaptation of his book, calling it ‘crummy’.

This Willy Wonka origin movie will be directed by Paddington’s Paul King (if you’re not already excited, let’s remember Paddington 2 is currently the top film on Rotten Tomatoes, having ousted Citizen Kane).

Timothee Chalamet
Timothée has been the top choice for some time for the part (Picture: Dominique Charriau/WireImage)

It’s based on a screenplay King has written with Simon Farnaby (also Paddington 2, also Horrible Histories), alongside previous writers Simon Rich, Simon Stephenson, Jeff Nathanson and Steven Levenson.

And for the final dollop of star power, David Heyman will be producing via his Heyday Films company, which was behind the Harry Potter movies.

GENE WILDER Character(s): Willy Wonka Film 'WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY' (1971) Directed By MEL STUART 30 June 1971 SAM45601 Allstar/WARNER BROS. (USA 1971) **WARNING** This Photograph is for editorial use only and is the copyright of WARNER BROS. and/or the Photographer assigned by the Film or Production Company & can only be reproduced by publications in conjunction with the promotion of the above Film. A Mandatory Credit To WARNER BROS. is required. The Photographer should also be credited when known. No commercial use can be granted without written authority from the Film Company.
Gene Wilder was the screen’s first Willy Wonka, but creator Roald Dahl wasn’t impressed (Picture: Allstar/Warner Bros.)

Timothée had reportedly been top choice for the part for a while but scheduling conflicts – including the intense prep time needed for a musical – had been an issue.

The heartthrob is set for a busy 2021, as the lead in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adaptation and as part of a star-studded cast – including Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray and Frances McDormand – for Wes Anderson’s French Dispatch.

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