Actor Timothee Chalamet (Call Me by Your Name) has been cast in the titular role of the upcoming Willy Wonka reboot from director Paul King (Paddington), according to Deadline. Titled Wonka, the film is expected to functionally serve as both a reboot and a prequel, focusing on the iconic inventor and whimsical chocolatier's younger days before opening a factory.

　　Chalamet is a strong choice for this role, as the actor has starred in a number of coming-of-age films including Lady Bird, Hot Summer Nights, and Hostiles. Deadline is also indicating that this film will mark the first time Chalamet will sing in a film. Back in January, production was expected to get underway by this month at the latest.

　　There are a number of Willy Wonka-verse projects in the works. Wonka has been in development since 2016, and is expected to be released theatrically on March 17, 2023. David Heyman (Harry Potter) will produce a script he co-wrote with Simon Farnaby (Mindhorn). It hasn't yet been revealed if director Tim Burton's 2005 retelling of Wonka having an overzealous dentist father will be considered canon.

　　Netflix has also ordered not two Charlie and the Chocolate Factory animated series from Thor: Ragnarok and Jo Jo Rabbit director Taika Waititi. There are also plans to develop other Roald Dahl properties for Netflix such as Matilda, The BFG, and The Twits.

　　Chalamet's next big release is director Denis Villeneuve's Dune, which is due out October 1.

　　David Wolinsky on Google+