Timothée Chalamet will play a young Willy Wonka in origin story film

Timothee Chalamet
(Image credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Is Timothée Chalamet about to give Willy Wonka the Joker treatment?

Okay, it probably won't get that dark, but the Oscar-nominated actor has been cast as a young Wonka in a new origin story film set to revolve around the character's "adventures prior to opening the world's most famous chocolate factory," Deadline reports.

Paddington's Paul King is directing Wonka, which Warner Bros. has scheduled for release in 2023. Chalamet will be the latest actor to take on the role after Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and Johnny Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, both of which were based on the Roald Dahl book.

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It's not yet clear exactly what the plot of Wonka will look like, but it's expected to include "several musical numbers," according to Deadline, and Variety confirms that Chalamet will sing and dance in it. Chalamet is also set to star in the upcoming Dune adaptation, and Deadline writes that this could be another "possible franchise" for him. Indeed, if this origin film is a success, don't be surprised if Hollywood hopes to bring us a whole Wonka Cinematic Universe.

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.