wonkamovie

Willy Wonka: Former child star pops up on Jeopardy! in the US

Wow! Did you see that Paris Themmen – aka Mike Teevee from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory – popped up on Jeopardy! in the US last month? He always did love television. 🙂

Honest Trailers – Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

This is pretty hilarious… including parody songs by Michael Bolton!

Willy Wonka on Saxophone and Drums

This is one of the strangest things I’ve seen. It’s interesting though, and I can’t imagine the practice it took to get it right!

Willy Wonka Prequel Film in the Works!

Wow. The news feeds are full this week with stories that the Roald Dahl estate is working with Warner Bros. to produce a new film about Willy Wonka. No, it’s not the official sequel Charlie and the Great Class Elevator. Instead it’s going to be a prequel story that comes before the events of the first book. It won’t be an origin story, but rather ” a standalone movie focused on Wonka and his early adventures”. The filmmakers are clearly trying to establish a Potter-like franchise, and they think Wonka could provide the hook.

Reaction seems to be mixed so far. Some fans are upset at this happening and feel it somehow insults Gene Wilder’s memory so soon after his death. Others are surprised that the notoriously picky Dahl estate would back the project.

I’m a little ambivalent about this one. Studios are rushing to establish franchises and “cinematic universes,” but I’m not sure if the Charlie books have enough world-building in them to support it. And unlike the Potter example, we don’t have Dahl himself around to bless the extended canon. The author of the initial Variety piece speculated on Twitter whether Dahl had any unpublished writing about Wonka the screenwriter will be able to use. I’d be surprised if that were the case. (The only scraps I’ve ever seen were from excised chapters and later sequels that never got finished.)

Couldn't get this confirmed but got the feeling Dahl may have written unpublished material that could be used to help build new world

— Justin Kroll (@krolljvar) October 19, 2016

What do you think? Are you excited about this project or wary?

[poll id=”4″]

Gene Wilder, star of Willy Wonka and Mel Brooks comedies, dies aged 83

Gene Wilder as Wonka

Like all Dahl fans, I was incredibly saddened to hear of Gene Wilder’s death this morning. He is the reason that Willy Wonka became the worldwide icon that it is today. I have donated $50 to Alzheimer’s Australia in his memory, and if you are able, I suggest you do as well!

Here are some links to information about him and his work:

Obituaries:

Links:

Gene Wilder on IMDb
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at this site
Willy Wonka song lyrics

Tweets:

Gene Wilder-One of the truly great talents of our time. He blessed every film we did with his magic & he blessed me with his friendship.

— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) August 29, 2016

Gene Wilder acted at a different frequency than any other. He was always a moment away from tenderness or hysteria. What an original.

— alan tudyk (@AlanTudyk) August 29, 2016

"Good Day Sir!"
RIP Gene Wilder

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) August 29, 2016

Gene Wilder was one of the funniest and sweetest energies ever to take a human form. If there's a heaven he has a Golden Ticket. ;^)

— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) August 29, 2016

Videos:

In an interview with Larry King in 2002, Gene Wilder talks about how he got his role as Willy Wonka. Source: CNN

His entrance as Wonka:

45th Anniversary Screening of Willy Wonka and COSTUME CONTEST!

The Burbank International Film Festival will be showing a special 45th anniversary screening of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on September 10th. As part of the celebration, they’re also hosting a COSTUME CONTEST and fans throughout the world are invited to send in photos of their best Wonka-inspired costumes. More details can be found over on the Calendar or on the BIFF website.