In case you haven’t heard about it, Warner Bros is working on a prequel, set before and inspired by Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The book has been adapted for a Broadway musical and was brought to the big screen previously in 1971 and 2005. In the 1971 film, Gene Wilder took on the role of Willy Wonka, the man behind everyone’s favourite chocolate factory, while in 2005, in a much less popular rendition, Johnny Depp brought Wonka to life.
The new take has been looking, reportedly, for someone to play Wonka between the ages of 29 and 35.
Ryan Gosling is actually 36 but it would seem that after expressing an interest in taking on the role, he has emerged as the top candidate. Plus we know he can sing and dance. The Hashtag Show broke the news but it’s worth noting that the project is still in the early stages of development.
Simon Rich (The Secret Life of Pets) is penning the script and Harry Potter producer David Heyman is overseeing it. The film will be set before the events of the book and explain how Wonka met the Oompa-Loompas, the orange creatures who work in his factory. No further details have been announced yet.
