How Rap Skills Helped Timothée Chalamet Land Iconic Willy Wonka Role
He danced and sang his way to the dream.
Roald Dahl's classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has spawned several adaptations, including Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder in 1971 and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory starring Johnny Depp in 2005.
Now, Warner Bros.is working on a new movie called Wonka, which will delve into the origins of the beloved chocolatier. Starring Timothée Chalamet, the upcoming film serves as a prequel to Roald Dahl's story, exploring the iconic character's backstory before becoming a factory owner.
Wonka is directed by Paul King, a British filmmaker known for his work on the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Paddington films. And according to the recently released trailer for Wonka, the tone of King's new film will likely be inspired by Paddington and its family-friendly atmosphere. In addition, Wonka will be a musical, showcasing Chalamet's singing and dancing skills as he performs several songs.
This is interesting to know, but it turns out that Chalamet's musical background played a role in the casting decision. According to director Paul King, interviewed by Rolling Stone, Timothee Chalamet was cast as Wonka because of his YouTube-popular high school musical performances.
Apparently, Paul King felt that Chalamet was the perfect fit for the role of Wonka, and the actor was hired on the spot without an audition. King was familiar with Chalamet and his musical performances in high school and knew that the actor had strong singing and dancing skills that would be perfect for the role of Wonka.
So, if Chalamet's performance in Wonka is expected to showcase the singing and dancing skills that he demonstrated in his teenage years, audiences can definitely expect a talented and energetic portrayal of the iconic Willy Wonka character.
Although the release date for the Wonka movie was originally set for March 17, 2023, it has been delayed due to the challenges posed by the pandemic, and now we will not be able to see Chalamet's dancing and singing talents until December 15, 2023.
But as Paul King confirmed, there are a lot of videos of Timothée’s younger performances on YouTube. You can enjoy them now until the movie's release and maybe get some inspiration to start your own YouTube channel, because who knows what opportunity it might bring you in the future.
Source:
Rolling Stone