We can all agree that 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a perennial classic and nothing will ever top it. Of course that didn’t stop Tim Burton and Johnny Depp from offering their take on Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s novel in 2005. It also didn’t stop Tom and Jerry from telling the story from their perspective (yeah, that was a thing too). It appears Warner Bros. will never leave good enough alone, as a new Willy Wonka movie is reportedly in development.
Here are three things you need to know about the proposed Willy Wonka reboot.
5. The Director of Paddington Is Involved
Before you completely write off this new Willy Wonka movie, it’s worth noting that WB is trying to enlist the best in the business. According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Paul King of Paddington and its 2017 sequel, which currently holds a 100% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, is in talks to helm the project. King would once again collaborate with producer David Heyman of the Harry Potter films.
4. Ryan Gosling as Willy Wonka?
In July 2017, it was reported that Ryan Gosling could be up for the role of Willy Wonka. There hasn’t been much news on this casting choice since then. Seeing how Gosling sang, danced, and played the piano in La La Land, though, he just might have a golden ticket… even if nobody can ever fill Gene Wilder’s shoes.
3. It’s Not a Remake
Unlike Burton’s version, this wouldn’t be a reimagining of the story we know and love. The proposed film wouldn’t even follow the plot of Dahl’s original book or its 1972 sequel, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. So then what exactly is it?
2. It’s A Prequel
David Heyman reportedly told /Film that the movie might be an origin story that could explore Willy Wonka’s “childhood or his middle age.” Heyman is no stranger to prequels, having produced Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Wouldn’t a prequel destroy the mystery that made Willy Wonka so interesting in the first place, though?
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1. Warner Bros. Wants a Franchise
From The Marvel Cinematic Universe, to the DC Extended Universe, to the Star Wars Universe, Hollywood is all about franchises these days. WB hopes this new Willy Wonka movie will act as a launching point for a series. How are they going to build a whole cinematic universe around this premise, though? Are they going to give each Oompa Loompa a standalone movie? Will Charlie, Veruca, Violet, Mike, and Augustus all get their own movies as Willy Wonka brings them together for the Golden Ticket Initiative? Is Slugworth going to be this franchise’s equivalent to Thanos and try to take over the world with a gauntlet powered by an Everlasting Gobstopper? Honestly, none of the above would surprise us.
So Would You Like to See A New Willy Wonka Movie or Is Warner Bros. Cooking Up A Bad Egg? Let Us Know What You Think and Watch These Videos:
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