There are few characters as striking as Willy Wonka, a particular master in the art of creating chocolate candies and other sweets that Roald Dahl imagined in his novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Now he will return to the cinema again, but he will do so played by an actor different from those who already gave him life on the big screen. It is therefore time for us to review all the faces of Willy Wonka in the cinema.
The creator of Willy Wonka: Roald Dahl
There are several authors who have managed to attract the attention of the big film studios with their works and one of them is Roald Dahl. This British-born novelist, short story writer, poet and screenwriter is responsible for such well-known works as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach o Matilda, Among others.
It was precisely with the novel by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with which we met the character of Willy Wonka, a particular lover of sweets and chocolate who built his own factory to give free rein to his imagination and create the richest sweets in the world.
The universe created around the character and the story of the book itself were so fascinating that it soon attracted the attention of the film industry, adapting the work to the big screen. That's how The first film was released in 1971 under the title of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Many years later, in 2005, the second would arrive, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, although the story was basically the same. A child with very few resources is lucky enough to buy a Wonka chocolate with the last golden ticket that would give access to a guided tour of the factory by its own creator - don't worry, we are not going to tell you anything else, so, in case you have not seen either of the two films, we will not do anything to you. spoiler.
Now we know that a third film starring Willy Wonka will soon arrive, although it will be a somewhat special one as it will be a prequel where the character's life when he was younger will be explored. This will be released next 15 December 2023 -it was initially scheduled for March 17, but was finally moved on the agenda- and will be called directly wonka.
wonka
The new film based on the work of Roald Dahl will be called wonka and, as we have said, it will tell the story of Willy Wonka when he was younger. This means that, according to the information that some media have been able to collect, there will be no direct connection with what you could have read in the novel. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or seen in the movies.
On the other hand, the film that will star Timothée Chalamet will have an air of musical, so the popular actor who we have already seen in numerous films (such as little women, bones and all, Call me by your name o Dune, , among others) will not only have to sing but also dance, something that will surely be a challenge for him.
So, if you saw the previous ones and you liked them, pay attention to the new one because it will probably conquer you. The film will be directed by Paul King, the director responsible for the two films Paddington (1 and 2), which is still a guarantee, especially if we take into account that he had to give up recording the third installment in order to be able to make Wonka. The British man must be very convinced of what he can do and the final result that will reach the big screen for such a leap.
We leave you below with both advances in video that is currently available of the film, both in the original version with subtitles and dubbed into Spanish:
Wonka – Trailer 1 on VOSE
Wonka – Trailer 1 in Spanish
Wonka – Trailer 2 on VOSE
Wonka – Trailer 2 in Spanish
All the faces of Willy Wonka
Giving life to a character as particular as Willy Wonka is not easy, which is why choosing the actor to play him on the big screen must be quite complex. Even so, we only have to refer to the first two films made, where it seems that those responsible knew how to do quite well with the casting.
Do you want to meet all the actors who gave life to Willy Wonka? Well let's get to it, these are the two who already did it and the last one is the one who will do it in the next movie: Gene Wilder, Johnny Depp and Timothée Chalamet.
Gene Wilder
La first Willy Wonka movie in theaters was starring Gene Wilder. This would be the first to give life to the eccentric designer of the great chocolate factory and other trinkets. An actor who fit quite well and we cannot say that that purple suit did not look bad at all.
Wilder also dared to direct and was in charge of several films (four in total), including The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (in 1975) or The World's Greatest Lover (1977)
He retired from acting in 2003 and died in 2016 at the age of 83.
Below you have a small fragment of the film directed by Mel Stuart, in which you can see Gene Wilder in better quality than the original, because it is a 4K reissue. Of course, the quality of the material increases, but not the visual aspect typical of the time. And he is already 50 years old, which is said to be early.
despite his years Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory behind him it must be recognized that he maintains that point that even today is quite enjoyed. The film, by the way, was even nominated for an Oscar and is considered a cinematic classic.
By the way, if you want to see it, you have it available at Netflix.
Johnny Depp
Al Second Willy Wonka brought him to life on the big screen Johnny Depp. This one, directed by Tim Burton, is for many fans of the novel the best Willy Wonka in history. Ok, a relatively easy title because it had the same odds as its rival (50/50) and the advantage of much more striking visual effects. Without counting on Burton's hand to create this type of special and different atmosphere.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory It was filmed at Pinewood Studios, in the United Kingdom, between June and December 2004, and was released in 2005. The film was a critical and box office success, achieving a worldwide gross of $475 million.
Below you have the trailer in Spanish, with which you can also get an idea of the film, if for some reason you have not seen it yet.
Eye-catching, right? She is another version of the character with much more color and a performance by the charismatic actor that makes her considered the best so far. By the way, in case you want to watch it, it is only available on video platforms as an option to rent or buy.
Timothée Chalamet
El new Willy Wonka is Timothée Chalamet and although it was not easy for him to overcome the role of Johnny Depp, it seems that he has finally passed with flying colors. Being one of the fashionable actors and having seen his performances in shows like Dune, o Call by your name have made many convinced that he could even surpass Depp at the box office, thanks above all to his great drawing power among young audiences, where he is a true phenomenon.
So much so that its premiere was a collection of 39 million dollars in the US and, at the time of writing these lines, it comfortably exceeds 500 million dollars. And the video previews themselves, like the ones you have a few lines above, already made us predict that we could enjoy this a lot. new history, full of a lot of fantasy, great special effects and a new plot, which brings freshness to the universe of the master chocolatier. All this without also forgetting that we have Hugh Grant like Oompa Loompa, giving us some of the best moments of the film.
Reviewing all the faces that have given life to the character, which one is your Willy Wonka? Favourite? Do you think Timothée Chalamet has finally risen to the occasion?