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Timothee Chalamet to star as young Willy Wonka in new origin movie

5:15
Timothee Chalamet was nervous to act with 'The Office' star
Warner Bros. via Newscom/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images, FILE
ByMegan Stone and Carson Blackwelder
May 25, 2021, 7:02 PM

Movie lovers will have their sweet tooth satisfied as they will soon learn the origin story of Mr. Willy Wonka himself.

"Call Me By Your Name" breakout star Timothée Chalamet has been tapped to star as the younger version of the eccentric chocolate factory owner in "Wonka," which is being produced by The Roald Dahl Story Co. in tandem with Warner Bros. Pictures.

Paul King, who directed both "Paddington" movies, is set to direct "Wonka." The screenplay is co-written by King and Simon Farnaby.

Gene Wilder portrays Willy Wonka in the 1971 film, "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," and Timothee Chalamet attends an event in Beverly Hills, Calif., Feb. 9, 2020.
Warner Bros. via Newscom/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images, FILE

Chalamet, 25, will even get to show off his singing and dancing skills in the film, according to Deadline.

This will mark the third time Roald Dahl's famous 1964 novel, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factor," will be adapted for the big screen.

First there was the 1971 movie adaptation "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" starring the late Gene Wilder in the titular role. Then, in 2005, Johnny Depp played Wonka in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

While Dahl's novel and the 1971 film didn't explore Wonka's background, the 2005 movie did, framing the chocolatier's candy ambitions as a result of being raised by a candy-hating father who was a dentist.

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