Paddington director Paul King is in talks to direct a reboot of Willy Wonka, based on Roald Dahl’s 1964 children’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Wonka is the fictional infamous and eccentric owner of a chocolate factory who figured prominently in Dahl’s 1964 book and its follow-up, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.He was also the caretaker of the Oompa-Loompas, the short humans whom Wonka saved from enemies in Loompaland and now makes his candies.
King is in final negotiations to direct the movie, being developed by Warner Bros, reported The Hollywood Reporter. He is also to be reunited with David Heyman, the producer of the two Paddington movies.
The Wonka character became so indelible in the culture that the 1971 film adaptation of the book was titled Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Gene Wilder portrayed the character in the original movie, while Hollywood star Johnny Depp played the role in the 2005 adaptation.
Both of King’s previous features, the two Paddington movies, have received universal acclaim and have been box office successes.
