Prequel to 'Willy Wonka' set for 2023 release

Willy Wonka will live on for a new generation of film-goers. Warner Bros. is gearing up to release "Wonka," an origin story focusing on the storied chocolate factory owner. The studio has already announced a release date for March 17, 2023. According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Paddington" filmmaker Paul King will direct the project, with "Harry Potter" producer David Heyman on board. Simon Rich wrote the original draft, with Simon Farnaby and King penning the current script. The new story will reportedly focus on "a young Willy Wonka and his adventures prior to opening the world's most famous chocolate factory." While no casting announcements have been made, Collider has reported from sources that "Call Me By Your Name" star Timothée Chalamet is being considered to play the younger version of the chocolatier, and Tom Holland is also reportedly in the running. Based on Roald Dahl's bestselling book of the same name, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" centered around a young boy who wins a contest to tour a chocolate factory owned by an eccentric, bizarre recluse. The original 1971 film "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," starring Gene Wilder, is considered an iconic children's' classic. In 2005, Johnny Depp played the role in Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," which grossed $475 million at the box office. King's involvement reportedly dates back in 2018. ___ (c)2021 New York Daily News Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.