Timothée Chalamet will star as the titular character.

By Molly Moss

Published: Wednesday, 12 July 2023 at 12:00 am

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Wonka, a prequel to Roald Dahl’s beloved 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is coming to the big screen later this year – and now the first official trailer for the upcoming musical fantasy film has landed, giving fans a look at Hugh Grant as an Oompa-Loompa.

The British actor appears towards the end of the newly-released footage, sporting the iconic green hair and orange face of the characters.

In the clip, we see the titular character (Timothée Chalamet) come face to face with Grant’s Oompa Loompa, who is trapped in a glass jar, and say: “So you’re the funny little man who’s been following me?”

The Oompa Loompa replies: “I will have you know that I am a perfectly respectful size for an Oompa Loompa,” before adding “allow me to refresh your memory” and beginning to dance.

In the clip, we also see Wonka joining forces with a young girl, played by Calah Lane, on his way to creating a chocolate that makes those who consume it fly.

Alongside Chalamet and Grant, the film’s all-star cast includes Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins and Keegan-Michael Key, and will be packed with musical and dance numbers.

In a conversation with British Vogue, Chalamet confirmed that he would be reprising seven musical numbers in Wonka, as well as revealing that Wonka isn’t a dark origin story as many had speculated, but rather an uplifting and joyous film. “Seven! You know what’s really funny about that is it’s so misleading. This movie is so sincere, it’s so joyous,” he said.

Read on for everything you need to know about Wonka, including when it’s set to land on our screens.

Wonka release date

Wonka is set to land in cinemas on 15th December 2023, after its original release date of March 17th 2023 was delayed.

After that, the Warner Bros movie will likely end up on Max, the platform formerly known as HBO Max.

Wonka has been in the works with Warner Bros since late 2016 after the company acquired the rights to the classic character from the Roald Dahl estate.

Wonka cast

Yannis Drakoulidis / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures

Chalamet and Grant will be joined by an all-star cast which includes Olivia Colman (Heartstopper), Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele), Rake Thakrar (Sex Education) and Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean).

Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) is also set to appear in the film. She previously worked with Wonka’s director and screenwriter on the Paddington movies.

Simon Farnaby (Your Highness), who is co-writing Wonka, has also joined the cast, alongside Mathew Baynton (Ghosts), Jim Carter (Best Picture winner Shakespeare in Love), Tom Davis (Paddington 2), comedian Matt Lucas (Alice in Wonderland), and Natasha Rothwell (Insecure).

Little is known about their roles at the time of writing, and fans will have to wait for more information.

Wonka plot: how is the movie connected to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?

The Wonka plot will explore Willy Wonka’s backstory, with Chalamet playing a younger version of the character, compared to a 38-year-old Wilder and a 42-year-old Depp.

Not much else is known about the story, but if we were to hazard a guess, we’d presume the upcoming film will explore how the titular character became the reclusive and neurotic owner of the candy empire we see in Dahl’s novel.

However, as detailed above, it won’t be a dark origin story as many might expect, but will instead be an uplifting film stuffed with joyous musical numbers.