Timothée Chalamet
Credit: Alessandra Benedetti – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Timothée Chalamet is giving people what they want: a first look at his portrayal of Willy Wonka. Taking to social media overnight, the actor shared a behind-the-scenes snapshot of the forthcoming film dubbed, Wonka. The Little Women star has expectedly taken up the role with such ease and is seen wearing a brown top hat, paisley scarf and velvet blazer. Gene Wilder, the original candy maker, would be proud.

Chalamet quoted the actor in the caption: “The suspense is terrible, I hope it will last …”

According to Variety, the new production will serve as a prequel to the cult children’s tale which saw Roald Dahl’s novel adapted for the 1971 film. Wilder then passed the top hat-shaped baton to Johnny Depp in 2005 for a modern take on the story, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by the eccentric Tim Burton.

While we were given a snippet of Wonka’s backstory in the 2005 adaption – his dentist father and the moment he first met his beloved Oompa Loompa’s – Wonka will dive deeper into his past. No Charlie to be seen. Paul King known for Paddington will direct the film. It will be housed by Warner Bros.

Willy Wonka Gene Wilder
Actor Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka on the set of the film ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’, based on the novel by Roald Dahl, 1971. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

Not everyone is thrilled with the 2021 film. In fact, there was backlash from the announcement in May where many OG Willy Wonka fans wanted the tale to be left well enough alone. Others suggested a sequel-style film where Warner Bros instead explores the character in his old age.

“The darkest way you can recycle it isn’t an origin story, it’s making the characters really old. Willy Wonka shuffling around a dusty disused factory, calling out for the Oompa Loompas who abandoned him decades ago. all the everlasting gobstoppers are finished,” one user wrote at the time.

The film is slated to release in March 2023, according to Deadline.

As for Chalamet, his latest film Dune will release into cinemas from October 22.