From High School Rapper to Willy Wonka: How Timothée Chalamet Nailed the Role

Paul King, the director of Wonka, has shared that he selected Timothée Chalamet for the role of Willy Wonka based on the actor's high-school rap videos on YouTube. The film, a prequel to Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, explores Wonka's journey before becoming a factory owner. As a musical, the movie showcases Chalamet's singing and dancing abilities as he performs various songs. In an interview with Rolling Stone, King expressed that Chalamet's musical performances on YouTube were instrumental in casting him as Wonka, eliminating the need for an audition.

It was a straightforward choice because he is exceptional and the first person who came to mind for the task. However, considering Timothée Chalamet's unique and somewhat unbelievable life, his musical performances from high school can be found on YouTube and have garnered hundreds of thousands of views. Being a fan of Timmy Chalamet, I was aware of his singing and dancing abilities.

Although I knew he possessed these skills, I was unsure of how proficient he actually was. During our conversation, he expressed a strong desire to showcase his tap dancing abilities, as he had previously practiced it in high school.

What To Expect From Timothée Chalamet In Wonka

Chalamet's musical background in high school served as the basis for King's decision to cast him as the lead in Wonka, which is not surprising. The initial trailer for Wonka provides a glimpse into the whimsical and magical nature of the film, as Chalamet's young Wonka competes with other chocolate makers using his own enchanted candy. Although it remains uncertain if Wonka will showcase his rapping skills in the movie, Chalamet has already shared that he performs seven musical numbers. The cheerful demeanor displayed by Chalamet in the Wonka trailer indicates that the film will exude a lively and enjoyable energy. Drawing inspiration from King's earlier family-oriented films, namely Paddington and Paddington 2, Wonka is poised to be a successful prequel to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

It is currently unclear how Wonka will be structured and what to anticipate from Chalamet's musical performances. Nevertheless, considering the movie's cheerful tone and heartfelt story, it is certain that Wonka will feature numerous emotionally stirring songs by Chalamet's character.