Hugh Grant has been confirmed to be playing an Oompa Loompa in the 2023 Wonka movie, starring Timothée Chalamet as the titular character, last played in live-action by Johnny Depp in the 2005 remake Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, set to release this Christmas.
This new announcement came directly from the Warner Bros. Pictures panel at tonight’s CinemaCon, the movie was filmed in London with Chalamet’s Willy Wonka set to travel the world in order to perfect his candy-making craft, with the plot being about the titular character wanting to open up a chocolate shop.
‘Wonka’ CinemaCon 2023 Trailer Details
In the extended footage revealed for the 2023 Wonka movie, Chalamet says “I’m something of a magician, inventor and chocolate maker”, quickly being told that as he travels the world to open up a chocolate shop that “Many people have come here to sell chocolate and been crushed by the chocolate cartel.”, seemingly revealing that Wonka will be battling some real bad guys this time round, potentially making this more of an action movie.
This new adaptation of the classic Roald Dahl novel sees Willy Wonka in his earlier years as he builds up both his reputation and empire, with Chalamet saying during the new trailer “Mark my words, this is going to be the greatest chocolate shop the world has ever seen.”, revealing that he has yet to obtain the status as usually depicted in earlier versions of the story.
It is shortly after this that Hugh Grant is revealed on the screen to be an Oompa Loompa in the movie, with an interaction between Grant and Chalamet as Wonka comes across one for the first time, revealing that this new telling of the character will offer an origin story, which was briefly shown in Depp’s adaptation.
Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman and Jim Carter are also set to appear in the 2023 Wonka movie.
Wonka comes to theatres on December 15, 2023.
