Chalamet enchants as Wonka in dazzling prequel trailer

LOS ANGELES: Actor Timothée Chalamet has stepped into the shoes of iconic character Willy Wonka, joining the ranks of Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp, in an upcoming prequel movie that explores into the origins of Roald Dahl’s cherished character.

Wonka, set for release in December features 27-year-old actor Chalamet as a younger version of the iconic candy maker. The cinematic exploration unravels the roots of Willy Wonka and his profound love for chocolate.

The trailer showcased his character’s journey of discovering cocoa beans, forming a bond with a young orphan girl and nurturing his dream of opening his own chocolate store.

The movie takes place before the events of the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which featured Gene Wilder as Wonka and was based on Dahl’s renowned 1964 novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

During a press preview of the trailer, director Paul King explained that the film delves into the whimsical and extraordinary story of Willy Wonka, exploring his unwavering ambition to become an exceptional chocolate maker. King expressed his commitment to remain faithful to Dahl’s original book while crafting the screenplay.

“I have crafted a prequel that stays true to Dahl’s vision, as if he himself had penned it,” King said

Dahl’s book recounted the tale of Charlie Bucket, a financially struggling young boy who wins a coveted golden ticket to tour Wonka’s chocolate factory, along with other children. These included the gluttonous Augustus Gloop, the gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde, the spoiled Veruca Salt, and the television-obsessed Mike Teevee.

In the upcoming movie, Wonka’s adventure unfolds in a fictional European city, which serves as the residence of master chocolatiers. Chalamet, like his predecessors Wilder and Johnny Depp in the 2005 adaptation, dons Wonka’s iconic top hat and long jacket.

King expressed his admiration for Chalamet’s portrayal, stating that the actor excels in embodying the mischievous and chaotic nature of the character while maintaining a deep emotional connection.

The trailer also introduced Chalamet’s esteemed co-stars, including Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, and Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa character.

Watch the trailer of the much-anticipated Wonka below.