Timothée Chalamet's High School Rap Videos Earned Him the Lead in "Wonka"

Over the years, major film studios have picked up tons of origin stories, from Disney's Cruella to Serena and Venus Williams' biopic, King Richard. So, it comes as no surprise that there's an all-new Willy Wonka movie hitting the silver screen *very* soon. Ladybird and Little Women star Timothée Chalamet takes on the role of the eccentric founder of the iconic Wonka Chocolate Factory.

If you're looking for all the details about Timothée's latest gig, you've come to the right place. Ahead, find everything you need to know about Wonka, from its release date to all-star cast.

Is there a trailer?

Yes! Timothée transforms into the iconic chocolatier in the official trailer, which dropped on July 11, 2023. We see a young Willy Wonka as he "perfects" his candy-making craft and daydreams of opening the "greatest chocolate shop the world has ever seen." Along the way, he battles the naysayers and skeptics to make his dreams come true and defy the laws of gravity through sweets and treats. Oh, and he meets his first Oompa Loompa (played by Hugh Grant in a surprise cameo).

Watch the complete trailer below. 🍭

Are there any photos?

Also yes. Back in February 2022, Daily Mail reported that Timothée was spotted in Oxford, England, wearing the chocolatier's signature costume, which included "a purple velvet tailcoat, brown top hat, and a mustard yellow silk scarf."

A few months earlier, in October 2021, we got our first glimpse of what to expect in the film when Timothée shared a behind-the-scene photo on Twitter: "WONKA ✨✨🍫," he captioned the snapshot, which captured him in the classic Wonka get-up — top hat and all.

Who is cast in Wonka?

Timothée Chalamet plays the titular role of Willy Wonka. The Dune star explained to Vogue that he was drawn to the chance to "work on something that will have an uncynical young audience." Describing the role as a "big joy," the actor shared: "In a time and climate of intense political rhetoric, when there’s so much bad news all the time, this is hopefully going to be a piece of chocolate.” Clever, Timothée!

How did the actor clinch the role, you ask? Well, according to director Paul King, Timothée didn't even have to audition, thanks to his high school performances on YouTube — including the rap videos, produced under his alter ego, Lil Timmy Tim. "It was a straight offer because he's great and he was the only person in my mind who could do it," King told Rolling Stone in a July 11 interview. "But because he's Timothée Chalamet and his life is so absurd, his high school musical performances are on YouTube and have hundreds of thousands of views."

"So I knew from stanning for Timmy Chalamet that he could sing and dance really well, King continued. "And I knew that was in his arsenal, but I didn't know how good he was. When I spoke to him he was quite keen. He’d done tap dancing in high school and he was like, 'I'd quite like to show people I can do that.'"

While our main man Wonka is coming to life thanks to the 27-year-old actor, the upcoming film also features an all-star cast that you won't want to miss. The ensemble includes Calah Lane, The Crown's Olivia Colman, Paddington star Sally Hawkins, Downton Abbey's Jim Carter, Notting Hill's Hugh Grant, and Mr. Bean himself, Rowan Atkinson.

Stars such as Rakhee Thakrar, Patterson Joseph, Keegan-Michael Key, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Natasha Rothwell, and Tom Davis round out the rest of the cast.

What is Wonka about?

Plot details are a bit vague, but Wonka is a prequel that explores the chocolatier's life before he opened his famous factory. The story is inspired by the 1964 novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by British author Roald Dahl. According to a report by Deadline, Wonka allegedly marks the first time that Charlie will not be featured in Willy's story.

However, the 2005 film adaption of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Tim Burton, contained flashbacks of Willy Wonka as a child. His father was a dentist who didn't allow him to eat sweets, so, Willy rebelled and tried a sweet before running away from home. While specific details remain under-wraps, there's a possibility that this storyline could be explored.

In his October 2022 cover story for British Vogue, Timothée revealed that Wonka is a "joyous" film with seven (!) musical numbers. He also reacted to the countless jokes fans have made about the movie on social media, despite it not being released yet. "You know what's really funny about that is [the photos are] so misleading. The movie is so sincere, it's so joyous," he told the outlet.

"This is a Willy that's full of joy and hope and desire to become the greatest chocolatier," the actor told Vogue in a separate interview.

Timothée also said that the film has helped him grow in his artistry as an actor. "I hate to say it, but the dream as an artist is to throw whatever the f--k you want at the wall, you know? And I guess what I'm realizing is that one's personal life, one's adult life, can be quite boring, and the artist's life can still be extraordinary."

When does Wonka come out?

Warner Bros. has confirmed that the Wonka debuts in theaters on December 15, 2023. We cannot wait. 🍫

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