Warner Bros. Announces ‘Charlie And The Chocolate Factory’ Prequel For 2023

Warner Bros. Studios has given the green-light for a prequel to the iconic 1964 children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory titled Wonka. This will be the second live-action film adaptation of the classic book by Roald Dahl after Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in 1971 and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2005. The movie will focus on a young Willy Wonka and how he originally founded his famous candy producing company. The title character was previous portrayed by Gene Wilder in the 1971 film and Johnny Depp in the 2005 remake. Paul King is set to serve as the director for the prequel, while David Heyman is attached to the project as a producer.

Wonka has apparently been in the works for quite some time, as the film was stuck in development for four years before finally being given the green-light. Fans gave the announcement a mixed response when it was revealed that Wonka will be getting a prequel. Several fans agreed that another adaptation of Dahl’s classic novel is unnecessary, as two have already been made with the author not even liking the first film and the remake being widely panned by both critics and audiences.

It has also been pointed out that Wonka will not even be the first time in which the origin of Willy Wonka has been told, as the 2005 film presented the character as someone who had a rough childhood due to his relationship with his strict father (Christopher Lee) who happened to be a dentist. The director Tim Burton’s addition of Willy Wonka’s childhood flashbacks with his father was also one of the most-criticized aspects of the 2005 remake.

Wonka is slated to be released on March 17, 2023.