UPDATED: Here’s the trailer for “Wonka.” It looks safe and family-friendly. A whimsical tale about a young man who wants to open a chocolate shop. Chalamet looks slightly miscast, maybe it’s just the footage that was shown.
As mentioned below, Paul King is directing this latest IP-driven bonanza. There will be musical numbers, although they are not shown in the trailer. Also, what’s up with Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa?
EARLIER: I’m hearing that we’ll be getting a trailer for Paul King’s upcoming “Wonka” tomorrow morning. Stay tuned.
According to The Evening Standard’s Tom Davidson, “Wonka” has a budget of around $125 million. That’s a lot for such a risk-taking project.
This is supposed to be a prequel to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” tackling the early life of Willy Wonka. The rest of the cast is also noteworthy: Sally Hawkins, Olivia Colman, Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Grant and Keegan Michael-Key.
Timothee Chalamet stars in the film and he has a very busy fall ahead, between this, “Dune: Part Two” and shooting “A Complete Unknown” in August. The kid is hot right now.
King’s “Wonka” test-screened in December to good notices. Jeff Sneider, ViewerAnon and Big Screen Leaks all backed up the positive intel. Yes, it test-screened 15 months before its December 2023 release. I haven’t heard of any reshoots since then.
Chalamet plays the titular Wonka. However, the big lure for me here is King, who made those two fantastic “Paddington” movies.
“Wonka” is banking on holiday audiences to show up as it opens just around the week before Christmas on December 15th, 2023. Will people actually buy tickets for this thing?