In recent interview with GamesRadar+, Wonka star Timothée Chalamet revealed an initial skepticism towards the film as potentially being a “cynical money grab” considering Hollywood’s recent reboot trend. The actor stated, “Like many people, when there are remakes, I feel very protective over the original character and versions you love.”
However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, upon reading the script’s first three pages, Chalamet knew director Paul King was creating something unique. Commenting on Wonka’s opening musical number, Chalamet said, “The song ‘Hat Full of Dreams’ was in there…And there was no music to accompany it, but the lyrics were so clever. [It’s] about this young Willy, who was definitively not the crazy, cynical, kind of jaded, brain-fried version that we see in the two prior films but was very hopeful, young, ambitious, won’t-take-no-for-an-answer, maybe a little naive. I think that’s very clever.”
In an interview with Rolling Stone, King previously stated that Chalamet did not have to audition for the titular role because “he was the only person in my mind who could do it.” Similarly, Chalamet has now stated that he was not intending to look for an all-singing, all-dancing role at the time either.
Chalamet said, “I love musical theater and I love song and dance…And I love old Fred Astaire movies and the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Gene Wilder. I didn’t think I’d get a chance to do it, not like this. But Paul King is one of these directors that you don’t say no to.”
Wonka is coming soon to theaters and will be out Dec. 15.
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