Casting for Warner Bros' reboot of Willy Wonka is in full swing, with everyone wondering who will step into the (large and probably purple) shoes of the iconic Gene Wilder.
And naturally, with so much affection for the original Roald Dahl book, anticipation is running high.
If rumours are to be believed, the reboot will star Donald Glover as the legendary chocolatier himself, though Ryan Gosling and Ezra Miller have also been linked to the role.
Advert
Imagine!
Glover would be a brilliant contrast to Johnny Depp, who starred in Tim Burton's 2005 adaptation - and signal a much-needed shakeup for a role historically played by white actors.
In case you didn't know, the California-born actor has an impressive CV, having starred in US rap scene comedy-drama series Atlanta and recently voiced Simba in 2019's The Lion King. His performance as Lando Calrissian was a highlight of Disney's Han Solo origin film Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Then there's his soaring music career, releasing and performing under the stage name Childish Gambino.
Paddington director Paul King heads up the film's crew while Harry Potter's David Heyman serves as producer, with screenwriter Simon Rich (Man Seeking Woman) on the script. All the big names then.
As to the plot, this movie won't be a remake of the iconic 1971 original. Instead, it's rumoured to jump back in time for a prequel format, delving into Wonka's early life.
That might involve answering questions along the lines of: when did Wonka master the art of sweet-making? How did he build his empire? And - less likely - are all those Oompa Loompas breaking some kind of employment law?
Advert
Warner Bros have reportedly been working on the storyline since 2016, but with production still in the early stages, it's unlikely we'll have confirmation of a release date for a while yet.
Still, we're more pumped up for this than a swollen Violet Beauregarde.
Featured Image Credit: Paramount / Warner BrosTopics: Film, TV News, TV Entertainment