By now, films being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic is not surprising, as Warner Bros.Wonkaprequel lead by Timothée Chalamet in the titular role has been pushed back from its original March 2023 release date to December 2023.
A prequel to Roald Dahl’s 1964 beloved classic novelCharlie and the Chocolate Factory,Wonkawill be directed by Paul King, who is known for his work on critically acclaimed children’s filmsPaddingtonandPaddington 2.TheWarner Bros.prequel will explore Willy Wonka’s early years before he meets the Oompa Loompas and becomes the well-known eccentric owner of the famous chocolate factory.Wonkawill also be the first entryin a cinematic universe featuring well-known Dahl characters.
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Warner Bros. announcedWonkawill now be released in theaters on June 23, 2025. The film had initially been set for a March 17 debut in the same year. The studio also shuffled the release dates of many of their upcoming DC big projects likeDC League of Super-Pets,Black Adam,The Flash, andAquaman and the Lost Kingdom. According to Deadline, many of these delays are due to the “logjam many post-prod effects houses are facing as productions ramped up during Covid.”
While vaccines and a gradual reopening in certain parts of the world may make it feel as if the pandemic is over, COVID-19 continues to be a serious threat, asWonkahas already suffered a delay in its production due to new cases from the cast and crew. So even though the delays are frustrating for audiences, since many of these Warner Bros. projects have been in development for years, it makes sense in order to guarantee films likeWonkasmoothly wrap up its productionwithout any rush and can have the most successful theatrical run when it’s finally released on the big screen.
Before Chalamet was cast, other big names such as Ryan Gosling, Donald Glover, and Ezra Miller were also rumored to be in talks for the lead role. But looking at Chalamet’s filmography in his young career, starring in acclaimed films likeCall Me By Your Name,Beautiful Boy,Little Women, and most recentlyDune, as well as seeingthe actor in costume as Willy Wonka(which harkens back to the same look and feel of Gene Wilder’s 1971 portrayal), it seems like there is no one better to play the chocolatier.
Joining Chalamet in the exciting adventure areKey & Peele’s Keegan-Michael Key,Mr. Bean’s Rowan Atkinson,The CrownandThe Favourite’sOscar-winner Olivia Colman, andThe Shape of Water’s Sally Hawkins. King will be co-writing alongsidePaddington 2’s Simon Farnaby, whilePaddingtonandHarry Potter’s David Heyman will serve as producer.
