Josh O’Connor Wants to Play a ‘Darker Version’ of Willy Wonka

Samantha Bergeson
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Josh O’Connor has his sights set on his dream role: playing a “darker version” of Willy Wonka.

Much like his “Challengers” co-star and “West Side Story” alum Mike Faist, O’Connor is looking to lean into the musical theater elements of the famed fictional chocolatier. Timothée Chalamet most recently played the Roald Dahl character in “Wonka,” with Johnny Depp and Gene Wilder leading other iterations of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

More from IndieWire

In a recent WSJ Magazine video, O’Connor revealed that Wonka is his ideal part.

“I would love to play Willy Wonka, but like a dark Willy Wonka,” he said. “I know they’ve just made a ‘Wonka’ film with Timothée Chalamet, but I would really like to play a story of darker version of him.”

According to O’Connor, the original portrayal of the character by actor Wilder is a haunting performance.

“I think Gene Wilder’s version of him is very dark. It’s not dark in this sort of sinister way; it’s just that I think he’s a really angry man,” he said. “You know, these kids win a competition to go around a chocolate factory and they all seemingly disappear. It’s sort of mad and dark. So I think I just play the truth of it.”

O’Connor is no stranger to embracing roles he sees as villainous. The actor recently called his “Challengers” character a bit of a “monster” and arguably the antagonist of the romance drama.

“It’s the first time I think I’ve played a character who’s just like, ‘I’m fucking mad.’ Like, ‘I’m a dick and I’m proud,'” O’Connor said.

Up next, O’Connor is reuniting with his “Challengers” director Luca Guadagnino for the adaptation of “Separate Rooms” alongside Léa Seydoux. The queer romance film involves a love triangle between O’Connor’s character Leo, his ill-fated lover Thomas, and a woman.

And O’Connor can look forward to more Wonka madness underway: After the disastrous unofficial “Wonka” pop-up event in Glasgow, Scotland, an indie horror film is in the works to retell the Fyre Festival-esque experience.

Best of IndieWire

Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.