Timothée Chalamet cast as Willy Wonka in origin tale

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Oompa Loompa, doompety doo, I’ve got another riddle for you! What do you get when you hit the A-list? Multiple big franchises it seems, with Deadline reporting that Warner Bros is casting none other than their Dune star Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka in a new origin tale from Paddington 2 director Paul King. Produced in association with the Roald Dahl Story Co.’ the new film, Wonka, is set to focus on Willy’s early days as a chocolatier and serve as a prequel. Whether or not this is a prequel to the Gene Wilder version or the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp version is unknown, but – look at him. Chalamet, in a lot of ways, looks like both men, so it really could be either. 

While I must admit I snickered when I heard Chalamet was cast, it makes sense. When the movie was announced a few months ago, I remember telling loads of people, “I’ll bet they’ll cast Chalamet.” It seems I was right, and the story reveals this will be the first time he shows off his presumed singing and dancing skills.

Snickering aside, I like Chalamet. Call Me By Your Name was great, and he was superb in a too-little seen Netflix movie called The King. No doubt he’ll be awesome in Dune so, you know what, if he wants to sing and dance as Willy Wonka, he’s earned the right. Besides, Paul King made a classic with Paddington 2, so why not? Bring on the Oompa Loompas!