Timothée Chalamet’s musical adventure as young Willy Wonka

The first official images from the upcoming musical fantasy film Wonka have been released, giving fans a glimpse of Timothée Chalamet as the young Willy Wonka and Hugh Grant as his loyal Oompa Loompa assistant.

The film, directed by Paul King (Paddington) and produced by David Heyman (Harry Potter), is a prequel to the classic Roald Dahl story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, exploring the origins of the eccentric candy maker and his mysterious chocolate factory.

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Chalamet, who is also set to star in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune later this year, will portray Wonka as a young man with a passion for confectionery and a flair for invention. He will also showcase his musical talents, as the film will feature several original songs written by King and composer Marc Shaiman (Mary Poppins Returns).

Grant, who recently earned acclaim for his role in HBO’s The Undoing, will play an Oompa Loompa named Loompaland, who becomes Wonka’s first and only employee after he rescues him from a perilous situation. Grant will also sing and dance in the film, as well as don a prosthetic nose and orange makeup to transform into the diminutive creature.

The images also reveal some of the sets and costumes that will bring Wonka’s world to life, such as a colorful street market, a lavish ballroom, and a whimsical hat shop. The film is expected to feature many of the iconic elements from Dahl’s book, such as the golden tickets, the chocolate river, and the everlasting gobstoppers.

Wonka is scheduled to be released on March 17, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures. It will also star Keegan-Michael Key as a rival candy maker, Olivia Colman as Wonka’s mother, and Sally Hawkins as his aunt. The film is one of several adaptations of Dahl’s works in development, including Netflix’s animated series based on his stories and Taika Waititi’s live-action version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.