Wonka (film)

For the soundtrack, see Wonka (soundtrack).

Wonka
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPaul King
Screenplay by
Story byPaul King
Based onCharacters
by Roald Dahl
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyChung Chung-hoon
Edited byMark Everson
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release dates
  • October 24, 2023 (2023-10-24) (ShowEast)
  • December 8, 2023 (2023-12-08) (United Kingdom)
  • December 15, 2023 (2023-12-15) (United States)
Running time
116 minutes[2]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$125 million[3]
Box office$634.4 million[4][5]

Wonka is a 2023 musical fantasy comedy film directed by Paul King, who co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby based on a story by King. It tells the origin story of Willy Wonka, a central character in the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, depicting his early days as a chocolatier. The film stars Timothée Chalamet as the title character, with an ensemble cast including Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Grant.

Development began when Warner Bros. Pictures reacquired the rights to the character in October 2016 and announced that the film would be an origin story. The film tells an original story and was developed by King to exist as a "companion piece" to Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) by reprising some of the music, thematic elements, and the visual design of the Oompa Loompas[6] but not to be an exact prequel. In May 2021, Chalamet was confirmed to portray Wonka, and the supporting cast was announced in September of that year. Filming began in the United Kingdom in September, at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in Watford, as well as Oxford, Lyme Regis, Bath, St Albans, and at the Rivoli Ballroom in Crofton Park, London.[7] The film's original songs were written by Neil Hannon, and its original score by Joby Talbot.

Wonka premiered in London at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre on November 28, 2023, and was released in the United Kingdom on December 8 and in the United States on December 15 by Warner Bros. Pictures. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Chalamet's performance, the music and visuals, and was a box-office success, grossing over $634 million worldwide against a $125 million budget to become the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2023. It received a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film, and Chalamet was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. A sequel is in development.[8]

  1. ^ Donnelly, Matt (November 14, 2023). "Warner Bros. Pictures Strikes New Co-Financing Deal With Domain Capital (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "Wonka (PG)". BBFC. November 28, 2023. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  3. ^ Vary, Adam; Rubin, Rebecca (January 3, 2023). "Box Office Predictions for 2023: Will Tom Cruise, Super Mario and a Bear on Cocaine Save Movie Theaters?". Variety. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  4. ^ "Wonka (2023)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  5. ^ "Wonka — Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  6. ^ Ito, Robert (December 15, 2023). "Can the Oompa-Loompas Be Saved?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  7. ^ "Filming Is Underway on Warner Bros. Pictures' 'Wonka'". WarnerBros.com (Press release). Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  8. ^ Gularte, Alejandra (November 9, 2024). "What's Paul King Cooking Up for Wonka 2?". Vulture. Retrieved November 9, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)