Wonka star Natasha Rothwell shares an update about the prequel movie and teases what audiences can expect from it. Hollywood's trend of giving every character under the sun a deeper backstory has hit Roald Dahl's iconic works, as the eccentric chocolate maker from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is set to receive his own movie next year. Directed by Paddington's Paul King and starring Timothée Chalamet as Willy, Wonka will explore the character's early adventures from before he opens his world famous chocolate factory. Little else is known about the plot, though Wonka is confirmed to be a musical.
Wonka was originally scheduled to premiere in March 2023, but Warner Bros. later shifted it to December, just in time for the holidays. The film has amassed a very starry cast including Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins, Jim Carter, and Rowan Atkinson. Aside from Chalamet, everyone's role is being kept tightly under wraps for the time being. Filming on Wonka got underway late last year and wrapped up in the early months of 2022.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 star Rothwell is also a member of the Wonka ensemble, and she was able to share some things about the prequel with Screen Rant while on the red carpet for the new video game film. It was already a forgone conclusion that Rothwell couldn't share anything about her character, but she did speak to her filming experience and teased the kind of story Wonka will tell. Rothwell said:
I can't give away anything. I feel like I signed everything away to do it. But I had so much fun. I literally got back a few weeks ago from shooting in London. I was there for five months and I just think audiences are going to enjoy it. I think I'm drawn to stories, especially post the height and peak of the pandemic that spread goodness and love and I think that's at the heart of both Sonic and of Wonka.
Based on the first look at Wonka shared online by Chalamet at the start of production, one might've thought the movie has little to do with goodness and love. The top hat-wearing Chalamet looked rather nefarious in the initial picture, and his caption was a bit curious too. Of course, going beyond Wonka, the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory story has moments of joy amid the darker themes. Wonka might strive to match Dahl's original style, thus giving the overall tale a sense of wonder.
Even if much of Wonka is a mystery right now, Rothwell's comments suggest audiences actually have reason to be excited. The past few years have shown that positive stories are more important than ever, and if Rothwell felt good enough about Wonka's to sign on, this could prove to be a delightful surprise. With well over a year left before the film's premiere, it still might be awhile before WB reveals more about it. For now, fans will just have to take Rothwell's words to heart and face Wonka with an optimistic outlook.
