Warner Bros. announced earlier today that Roald Dahl’s children’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will receive prequel film treatment.
Wonka, the title of the new film, will focus on Willy Wonka’s childhood days before creating his esteemed chocolate factory. The project has been in development for almost five years but only recently garnered enough steam to move forward in its production.
In 2005, Warner Bros. released Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory starring Johnny Depp that was a darker reboot of the classic 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Family with Gene Wilder. It is undetermined whether Wonka will include characters or plot lines from either of the two films, including the staple Oompa-Loompas.
Wonka will be produced by David Heyman (Harry Potter), based on a script by Simon Rich (Saturday Night Live), and Paul King (Paddington) will direct.
Netflix is also in the process of developing two animated series centering around Willy Wonka’s world. Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok) is attached to both series as writer, director, and executive producer.
Warner Bros. has its eyes set on releasing the film, in theaters, by March 17, 2023.
Source: Variety