Dust off your magical coats and put on your hats, we’re officially in the Wonka era. With Wonka debuting in theaters on Dec. 15, fans are guaranteed to have a fun time at the movies by seeing actors like Timothée Chalamet, Hugh Grant, and Olivia Colman in a world of pure imagination. As someone who’s obsessed with musicals and loves anything to do with candy, I have a feeling Wonka will be one of the most talked about films this holiday season.
Even if you’re not the biggest fan of musicals, one thing that I think audiences are anticipating most is seeing Chalamet take on a more comedic role, as well as hearing his vocal abilities as Wonka himself. It’s been a very long time since we’ve had a new adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved novel, so fans have questions about what this version will bring to the silver screen.
Is Wonka a standalone film or a prequel?
Even though Wonka can be considered a prequel to Gene Wilder’s 1971 performance, director Paul King decided that this version of Wonka would be considered a standalone film and is not meant to be a take on any previous performances of Willy Wonka.
King mentioned that he would love to do a sequel to Wonka, but the film works best being a standalone and can just be told in one film. Chalamet also seems to be on board with a sequel as well, so depending on the box office numbers, we may be getting another Wonka film in the future.
Is it actually Timothée Chalamet singing in Wonka?
Since Wonka is a musical movie, the soundtrack is composed of many different musical numbers that the cast sings on. In fact, Chalamet himself sings on all of the songs, including his own version of Gene Wilder’s “Pure Imagination.”
Chalamet called his role as Wonka “his most physically demanding performance” yet, and talked about the intense dance training and vocal lessons in preparation for the character. Chalamet will also be portraying Bob Dylan in the upcoming film, A Complete Unknown, and has been taking vocal lessons in preparation for the performance. So, yes, Chalamet does sing in Wonka.
Either way, I will be seated in a theater ready to make Wonka my next personality trait on Dec. 15. In the meantime, I’ll be listening to Chalamet’s rendition of “Pure Imagination” on repeat.