Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ Wonka, with Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet (upcoming Dune, Call Me By Your Name) in the titular role, under the direction of award-winning filmmaker Paul King (the Paddington films).
Oscar-nominated producer David Heyman (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood), who produced the Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and Paddington films, Luke Kelly, who produced the recent feature adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches as well as the upcoming Matilda, and Alexandra Derbyshire, who executive produced the Paddington films and the upcoming Jurassic World: Dominion, are producing Wonka.
The film is based on characters by Roald Dahl, inspired especially by one of Dahl’s most beloved characters, Willy Wonka, and takes place before the events of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Starring alongside Chalamet are Rowan Atkinson (the Johnny English and Mr. Bean films, Love Actually), Mathew Baynton (The Wrong Mans, Ghosts), Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), Oscar winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite), Tom Davis (Paddington 2, King Gary), Simon Farnaby (the Paddington films, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Rich Fulcher (Marriage Story, Disenchantment), and Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water, the Paddington films, Spencer).
Also on board are Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Paddington 2, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Mary Poppins Returns), Paterson Joseph (Vigil, Noughts + Crosses), Emmy and Peabody Award winner Keegan-Michael Key (The Prom, Schmigadoon), Calah Lane (The Day Shall Come), and Matt Lucas (Paddington, Little Britain).
The cast is rounded out by Colin O’Brien (The Mothership), Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus, Insecure), Rakhee Thakrar (Sex Education, Four Weddings and a Funeral) and Ellie White (The Other One, The Windsors).
King is directing from a screenplay he wrote with Paddington 2 co-writer Simon Farnaby (with prior writers including Simon Rich, Simon Stephenson, Jeff Nathanson, and Steven Levenson). Michael Siegel and Rosie Alison are serving as executive producers.
King’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-nominated director of photography Seamus McGarvey (Anna Karenina, Atonement); Oscar-nominated production designer Nathan Crowley (Tenet, Dunkirk); editor Mark Everson (the Paddington films); and Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming (the Paddington films, Topsy-Turvy).
Neil Hannon of the band The Divine Comedy is writing original songs for the film.
Filming in the UK, Wonka is set to open in theaters March 17, 2023 and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
