Timothée Chalamet stars within the film musical Wonka, a prequel that tells the origin story of the enduring chocolatier from Roald Dahl’s 1964 e book Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing facility. Within the movie, the Golden Globe nominee showcases his singing and dancing expertise, bringing a recent spin on the beloved candy-maker.
“This was probably the most bodily difficult challenge I’ve ever finished,” Chalamet informed Self-importance Truthful on the film’s Los Angeles premiere on Sunday. “I can not say the singing and dancing comes straightforward. I have been round musical theater my complete life, and danced somewhat bit in highschool, however this was on a distinct degree. It is totally different doing it on movie. You’ve acquired to maintain being within the heart of the body whereas dancing, you’ve acquired to rehearse for months, you’ve acquired to be on for each take—take 12 and all the opposite takes—and dance with skilled dancers, who’re icing their ankles. That is how critical they had been taking it. So it was an enormous problem.”
Chalamet’s musical skills might be traced again to his time at New York Metropolis’s famed LaGuardia Excessive College, the place he performed Oscar within the musical Candy Charity and the Emcee in Cabaret. The Oscar-nominated actor beforehand confirmed off his vocal expertise in 2019’s A Wet Day in New York. For Wonka, he spent three months in choreography bootcamp with Tony winner Christopher Gattelli, studying intricate dance numbers that included quite a lot of types resembling faucet, waltz, and a flying sequence that required him and costar Calah Lane to be harnessed within the air.
Along with dancing, Chalamet did vocal coaching with British music supervisor James Taylor. He croons six unique songs from songwriter Neil Hannon within the film, and in addition performs a brand new rendition of “Pure Creativeness,” first sung—and popularized—by Gene Wilder within the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Manufacturing facility.
“Singing ‘Pure Creativeness,’ that nearly felt sacrilegious to go close to, trigger Gene Wilder does it so completely,” stated Chalamet. “Gene Wilder’s model is the very best, appropriately, and the music is kind of the centerpiece of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Manufacturing facility. However my model of the music is kind of the send0off in our film. The music is similar, however the messaging is somewhat totally different.”
Wonka, out in theaters December 15, follows a younger and keen Willy Wonka, who strikes to town to pursue his dream of opening his very personal chocolate store after the demise of his chocolatier mother (Sally Hawkins). In contrast to the Gene Wilder film and Tim Burton‘s 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing facility remake starring Johnny Depp, Wonka writer-director Paul King says his Wonka is cheerful and stuffed with optimism.
“Once we first meet Willy Wonka within the film, he hasn’t actually change into the character that so many people grew up with. However you’re feeling there’s a lot pleasure, love, and kindness in him,” stated King, who additionally helmed the extremely acclaimed Paddington motion pictures. “He believes his desires are potential and discovers who he’s, but additionally finds a household. The theme of the film is in regards to the households that we’re born into and the lasting impression they made, and the households that we discover alongside the way in which. It is actually stunning and bittersweet.”
“The film is heartfelt and honest,” added Chalamet. “These are the sort of motion pictures that we’d like now, and it’ll go away a smile in your face.”
A Willy Wonka origin story would not be full with out an Oompa Loompa. Hugh Grant additionally seems within the movie as Lofty, an 18-inch-tall orange Oompa Loompa with inexperienced hair who’s monitoring Wonka around the globe. King beforehand labored with Grant on Paddington 2, and persuaded the British star to tackle the function. He even acquired Grant to sing the “Oompa Loompa” theme music from the 1971 film.
“I am positive Hugh will provide you with a really grumpy reply, however the fact is, we actually make one another snort. I used to be in a position to say to him, I’ve acquired a small, malevolent character, which I believe you’d be superb in taking part in, and he went for it after a four-hour turnaround,” stated King. “He was eager. For a heartthrob, he was very blissful to look ridiculous. I believe it entertained him as a lot as anybody.”
King has crafted a world for Wonka that’s fantastical, however the film additionally boasts actual, edible, and delectable goodies. Gabriella Cugno, a real-life chocolatier from the set adorning and props staff, created over 2,000 goodies to be consumed onscreen by the actors in the middle of the film. All of her goodies had been utterly hand-tempered and handmade with all -atural substances. She even noticed dietary necessities and made vegan variations as effectively. Cugno additionally assembled edible flowers, mushrooms, tree bark and teacups.
“Each piece of chocolate that I ate was actual, and all of the goodies had been bespoke,” stated Keegan-Michael Key, who dons a fats swimsuit to play a chief of police who accepts fee in sweets. “So while you watch the film, any piece of chocolate you see, it is not wax. It isn’t like they reduce to a prop that appears like a chunk of chocolate; the chocolatier made all of it. Generally, it was so scrumptious that I requested for an additional take.”
Wonka by no means offers as much as obtain his dream in opening a chocolate store, and Chalamet is emulating his onscreen character’s honest, constructive pondering. “I am dwelling my desires in the present day. I am very grateful,” stated the actor, who subsequent seems in Dune: Half Two. “My dream is to proceed to work and for good well being for my household.”
