Directors often pull actors they’ve worked with into other projects. In Wonka, Paul King will reunite with Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa. Although the two worked together on Paddington 2 in 2017, the director had a specific reason in mind to cast the Emmy-nominated actor in a seemingly goofy role.
Wonka will tell the story of a young Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) for a fresh take on the character. The focus will be on how he met the Oompa Loompas and an adventure outside of the chocolate factory. The first look at the two leading actors in their respective roles was released today with the first trailer (seen below).
Behind the Choice of Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa in Wonka
In the trailer for Wonka, Hugh Grant makes his appearance as an Oompa Loompa. At the premiere of the trailer in London, featuring all kinds of treats you would expect from Willy Wonka, King spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about his casting choice. The filmmaker looked at the original books by Roald Dahl. The source material did not provide much lore for the orange helpers of the chocolate factory mastermind. The biggest impression came from their songs, which King described as “incredibly sarcastic and judgmental and cruel.” So, he needed the perfect actor to capture that tone.
“So I was really just thinking about that character, somebody who could be a real sh–, and then… ah, Hugh! Because he’s the funniest, most sarcastic sh– I’ve ever met.”
Toward the end of the year, we will see how Wonka will turn out with Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa. He and Chalamet will be joined by Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key, Rowan Atkinson, Ellie White (The Windsors), and Matt Lucas (The Great British Baking Show). The film will release in theaters on December 15.
