Here’s the new trailer for “Wonka.”
It looks safe and family-friendly. A whimsical tale about a young man who wants to open a chocolate shop. Timothee Chalamet looks slightly miscast, maybe it’s just the footage that was chosen, but there’s no spark to this performance.
No one can really compare to Gene Wilder and the manic energy he brought to the original ‘70s Wonka. I’m seeing bits of shallow whimsy in this one. Maybe it’ll turn out to be a good movie, there’s definite potential, some moments in the trailer work very well.
Yes, Chalamet plays the titular Wonka. However, the big lure for me here is King, who made those two fantastic “Paddington” movies. He’s directing this latest IP-driven bonanza. There will be musical numbers, although they are not shown in the trailer. Hugh Grant’s controversial Oompa Loompa shows up. A good time had by all.
According to The Evening Standard’s Tom Davidson, “Wonka” has a budget of around $125 million. That’s a lot for such a risk-taking project.
This is supposed to be a prequel to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” tackling the early life of Willy Wonka. The rest of the cast is also noteworthy: Sally Hawkins, Olivia Colman, Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Grant and Keegan Michael-Key.
King’s “Wonka” test-screened last December to good notices. Jeff Sneider, ViewerAnon and Big Screen Leaks all backed up the positive intel. Yes, it test-screened 15 months before its December 2023 release. I haven’t heard of any reshoots since then.
“Wonka” is banking on holiday audiences to show up as it opens just around the week before Christmas on December 15th, 2023. Will people actually buy tickets for this one?