When you want to create the story of what shaped Willy Wonka and his passion for chocolate, it is not with a little awe. That’s what the director behind the films about Paddington and now “Wonka”, Paul King, tells us. The film about the young version of the chocolate maker and the magician has its cinema premiere on 8 December, and in that connection news met the filmmaker and several of the actors from the film in London. In addition to directing the film, King, together with Simon Farnaby, wrote the script for “Wonka”. MUSICAL: Chalamet and the other actors both sing and dance in the film. Photo: Jaap Buittendijk – Roald Dahl is one of the great storytellers of the times. He has created these extraordinarily enduring characters and stories. Treading in his footsteps is incredibly terrifying. It’s like standing on the shoulders of a giant. But the plus side of such a project, that one gets to play with Roald Dahl’s extraordinary creations, trumps the awe of King. Big shoes to fill Timothée Chalamet, known from “Dune”, plays Willy Wonka in the film. Chalamet sees it as a difficult task to fill a role that so many people have a relationship with through Roald Dahl’s books and previous film adaptations. – It feels like a big responsibility. People are very protective of the universe, understandably and rightly so. But when I read Paul King’s script, I thought wow, this is a very clever picture of how Willy became the Wonka we all know, Chalamet told news. IN LONDON: news met footballers Keegan-Michael Key and Timothée Chalamet in London. The film had its world premiere there this week. Photo: Warner Brothers / Warner Brothers In “Wonka” we meet several new characters. Among other things Noodle, spelled by the unknown magazine Calah Lane. She had to go through several auditions with dancing and singing before she finally got the role of Willy Wonka’s good helper. – Me and Noodle are about the same. We both have the same characteristics, so it was definitely no challenge to bring her to life in this wonderful Wonka world. I am so proud to be part of this film, says Calah Lane. FRESH: “Wonka” is Calah Lane tv’s first major film. She plays the character Noodle. Photo: Jaap Buittendijk – Tribute to Roald Dahl Keegan-Michael Key plays the police chief, another character who is completely new to the Wonka universe. But what the police chief experiences in the film is not so different from what other characters have experienced earlier in Roald Dahl’s story. – Since this film is supposed to be a precursor, I wonder if my character in some way affects Wonka later in life, says Keegan-Michael Key. Roald Dahl, who was born in Britain to Norwegian parents, is said to have stated that he did not like the film adaptation in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” from 1971. Nevertheless, Paul King is quite confident that Roald Dahl would be interested in an early story about Wonka . King has delved into Dahl’s archive. They have also collaborated with the family of Roald Dahl. And the grandson, Luke Kelly, is one of the producers of the film. DIRECTOR: Paul King finds it terrifying and a joy to follow in the footsteps of Roald Dahl. Photo: Warner Bros. The goal of the filmmaker has been to make the plot and characters in “Wonka” fit into Roald Dahl’s universe. And it seems to the shoe players Keegan-Michael Key and Timothée Chalamet that he has succeeded. – Paul King’s script is very cleverly written, because it is a tribute to things that have happened in the universe before, says Keegan-Michael Key. – All credit to Paul King and Simon Farnaby, who have created something very Roald Dahl-esque, says Timothée Chalamet. PREMIERE: From 8 December you can see the film in Norwegian cinemas. Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
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Now comes the precursor to Roald Dahl’s classic “Charlie and the chocolate factory” – news Culture and entertainment
