by Wonka Director Paul King has revealed why Timothée Chalamet didn’t have to audition for the lead role in the film.
The upcoming film serves as a prequel to Roald Dahl’s 1964 children’s novel, Charlie and the chocolate factory, tells the story of contest winner Charlie Bucket on a tour of Willy Wonka’s magical chocolate factory.
In the film, Chalamet plays the young Willy Wonka.
In an interview with Rolling StoneKing revealed that he did not need Chalamet to audition for Wonka’s character.
“It was a straightforward offer because he was great and he was the only one in my mind who could do it,” King said.
“But because he was Timothée Chalamet and his life was so ridiculous, his high school musical performances popped up on YouTube and got hundreds of thousands of views. So from being a fan of Timmy Chalamet, I knew that he can sing and dance very well.”
King added: “I know that’s his arsenal, but I don’t know how good he is. When I talked to him, he was quite interested. He did juggling in high school and he said, ‘I’d love to show people I can do it.’”
Chalamet also talked to fashion magazine about his decision to take on the iconic children’s character.
Timothée Chalamet in ‘Wonka’
(Warner Bros)
“To be able to do something that will appeal to an unsuspecting young audience is a great joy. That’s why I was attracted to it,” he said.
“In a time and atmosphere of tense political rhetoric, when there is always so much bad news, hopefully this will be a piece of chocolate.”
by Wonka The first trailer was released this week.
In addition to Chalamet, the film’s cast also includes Matt Lucas, Olivia Colman, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), Sally Hawkins (Shape of water), Mathew Bayton (Gavin and Stacey) and Paterson Joseph (peek show).
The new trailer also introduces Hugh Grant’s character Oompa Loompa for the first time.
Wonka has been portrayed many times in the movie. In 1971, he was played by Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka & Chocolate Factory. Then in 2005, Johnny Depp’s role in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory critics and polarized audiences. Both Wilder and Depp received Golden Globe nominations for their performances.
Wonka will hit theaters on December 15.
