This week, Warner Bros. announced plans to produce a prequel to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. GeekTyrant reports the studio is already looking for a lead. Currently, Warner Bros. is considering either Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming) or Timothee Chalamet (Little Women). This news harkens back to the good old days when Hollywood didn’t just risk going literally bankrupt due to a global pandemic but was merely creatively bankrupt.
According to the article, the script was written by Simon Rich (An American Pickle), and the film should be directed by Paul King (Paddington). David Heyman – one of the Harry Potter producers – is looking to produce.
First published in 1964, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a beloved children’s novel by British author Roald Dahl. In 1971, Mel Stuart directed a live-action feature film based on the novel. Over the years, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory became a bit of a cult classic. In 2005, Tim Burton directed a remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, starring Johny Depp.
Interestingly, in 1972 Dahl published the sequel to the original novel, titled Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. Yet, for whatever reason, Warner Bros. prefers to make this prequel thing. So, sure, whatever.
