Wonka Theory: Charlie's Secret Cameo in 2023 Movie & Potential Sequel

The Mystery of Charlie in Wonka

A fascinating Wonka theory suggests that Charlie Bucket was in the 2023 movie, which has already set the stage for a sequel film. Despite borrowing several elements from the original Roald Dahl book and 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Paul King's Wonka etches its own unique identity by following an original storyline that walks through the adventures — and misadventures — of a young Willy Wonka.

Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka in Wonka and Freddie Highmore as Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Since it introduces several original narrative elements, it is hard not to assume that it shares no connective threads with the previous movies or the original Roald Dahl story. However, an intriguing theory begs to differ. It highlights how 2023's Wonka might have secretly introduced Charlie as one of its characters and even made room for a sequel that features him.

Timothee Chalamet as Willy Looking Shocked with Candy in His Mouth in Wonka

Wonka does not explicitly establish Charlie as a character. Even if it did have Charlie as one of its main characters, Charlie would not have a purpose in the movie's overarching storyline because it primarily focuses on a younger Willy Wonka. In the original Roald Dahl story and its two movie adaptations, Willy Wonka is a much older character, who invites a group of children and their parents to visit his mysterious chocolate factory. Charlie becomes one of these 'lucky' kids and ultimately lands the opportunity to become Willy Wonka's heir. As portrayed in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, however, Charlie initially declines Willy Wonka's offer.

TImothee Chalamet as Willy in Wonka

The Theory Unveiled: Shoeshine Boy's Secret Identity

When Willy Wonka arrives in the city in Wonka's opening arc, a young shoeshine boy follows him everywhere and keeps cleaning his boots without even asking him. To Willy Wonka's dismay, he is forced to pay the young boy despite having only a few bucks in his pocket. A theory suggests that the young Shoeshine Boy could have been Charlie. In the original Roald Dahl story and the 1971 and 2005 films, Charlie comes from a poor family that struggles to make ends meet. However, despite financial hardships, Charlie remains optimistic and does everything he can to help his parents.

Timothee Chalamet singing as Willy Wonka in Wonka

Given how the Shoeshine Boy from Wonka's opening arc also seemingly works hard to keep his head above the water, he could be Charlie Bucket. Like Charlie Bucket, he not only does honest work to earn a living but also seems somewhat obsessed with Willy Wonka. Only time will tell whether he is Charlie, but potential sequels can harp on these narrative parallels between the Shoeshine Boy and Charlie Bucket to introduce the Shoeshine Boy as Charlie. However, as plausible as this theory may seem, it gives birth to several narrative and timeline inconsistencies.

Timothee Chalamet as Willy Chomping on a Flowery Candy in Wonka

Challenges and Opportunities for a Charlie & The Chocolate Factory Sequel

Logically, Wonka is a prequel to all previous Willy Wonka stories in the original Roald Dahl books and the 1971 and 2005 films because it portrays a younger version of the chocolatier. However, it remains unknown whether it is an official backstory for the Willy Wonka characters in the two previous movies. When Paul King was asked about Wonka's connections to the previous films, he called it a 'companion piece' to the 1971 Gene Wilder movie. Wonka also includes several original songs from the 1971 movie, and, in some scenes, Timothée Chalamet also tries to recreate several Gene Wilder moments from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

TImothee Chalamet as Willy Bugging Out His Eyes in Wonka

If the shoeshine boy is Charlie, Wonka has set the stage for a potential sequel that adapts Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, since Timothée Chalamet's Willy Wonka is already significantly different from Johnny Depp and Gene Wilder's portrayal of the character, the potential sequel will have to rewrite many elements from the original story to keep its narrative consistent with the story elements introduced in Wonka. Whether Wonka will expand its universe into a full-fledged franchise is yet to be known, but the fact that Willy Wonka starts his own factory with an Oompa Loompa in its closing moments suggests that there is immense room for further exploration of Paul King's reimagining of Roald Dahl's story.

Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket smiling in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory