Timothée Chalamet’sWonkaco-star Keegan-Michael Key said the wunderkind is a force to be reckoned with, praising his acting as Willy Wonka in the upcoming musical and hopefully allaying some fears regarding the whole project.
WhenWarner Bros. announced they were going to do a musical prequel toCharlie and the Chocolate Factory(previously adapted in 1971 as a musical with Gene Wilder and a 2005 Tim Burton/Johnny Depp NuGoth romp) titledWonka, people shook their heads and said, “Alright. I guess so.” When they cast newly minted megastar Chalamet in the title role, it made fans of the books and movies sit up.
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If what Key has to say toThe Hollywood Reporteris anything to go by, Chalamet is an Oompa Loompa Doompety Delight as the titular chocolatier, evincing a hopefulness in the face of his struggles during the course ofWonka. Per Key during a press tour forHulu’sRebootsitcom, “This kid, you know, he drips charisma and wonderful confidence. He’s just a really delicious artist.” Wordplay involving taste aside, it’s good to give fans something to latch onto, a note that the project seems to be going in the right direction.
When Warner Bros. announced Chalamet would take the lead role inWonka, fans were nonplussed. Nobody disputed his acting chops, just the whimsicality such a role would require, something hitherto unknown in Chalamet’s repertoire. There were some hints the project might be fun, especially withPaddingtonandPaddington 2directorPaul King directingWonka. Plus, the cast seemed alright, containing a Who’s Who of colorful actors from all across the big and smalls screens such as Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean), the previously-mentioned Key, Matt Lucas (The Great British Bake Off), Olivia Colman (The Crown) and Jim Carter (Downton Abbey).
Chalamet did a tremendous turn in the controversialCall Me By Your Name(oppositethe now-disgraced Armie Hammer) and led the sci-fi spectacularDuneas Paul Atreides (a role previously played by Kyle MacLachlan). Though very few people saw him being able to step into Wilder’s shoes (perhaps Depp’s cheekbones) when the studio further informed audiences that the newWonkawould also be a musical of all things, his co-stars say differently. If Chalamet’s turn inWonkais truly dripping with charisma and he does half as much for chocolate as he did for peaches, fans have nothing to fear whatsoever.
Wonkadances into theaters on July 01, 2025.
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