A classic children’s book gets a new in-depth look at one of its main star characters in the new “Wonka” movie and it’s the best one yet.
Released on Dec. 15, 2023, this movie sheds light on Willy Wonka’s backstory, describing his incredible journey as to how he became the iconic and delightfully weird chocolate maker we know and love today. This movie gives the best backstory compared to the other movies.
The movie marks the third movie adaptation of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl. The first being “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971), starring Gene Wilder and the second being “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005), starring Johnny Depp.
“Wonka” stars Timothée Chalamet in the lead role as he tries to launch his line of chocolate in the middle of a town with three major chocolate makers. Warning, there are spoilers.
The movie describes how Wonka begins his career in the big city and befriends an orphan girl named Noodle while competing with the top chocolatiers, Arther Sluggworth, Mr. Fickelgruber and Mr. Prodnose.
It leans more towards the 1971 Wilder version than it does for the 2005 Depp version. The Wilder version doesn’t necessarily explain Wonka’s backstory, luckily the new “Wonka” movie answers that question.
Weekend reporter and editor of the Today Show, Becca Wood, interviews the director of Wonka, Paul King, in her article, “Willy Wonka over the years: Which actors have played the kooky chocolatier?” who stated, “I grew up with the book and that is very near and dear to my heart,” King says. “But because I am the age I am, the Gene Wilder movie was the movie that was on TV, so I think in my childhood imagination, I sort of merged the two and that just felt like who Willy Wonka was.”
Since King grew up seeing Wilder on the big screen, he combined his love of the movie with his imagination after reading the book and was able to produce a cinematic masterpiece, all while staying true to the character and creating a new backstory for the amazing chocolatier.
“Wonka” was beautifully produced, bringing childlike wonder to the big screen. There is amazing use of choreography and subtle humor. As for the storyline, there is a slight difference.
“Wonka” primarily focuses on how Wonka became extraordinary whereas the other movies describe him as already wealthy and successful and focuses more on Charlie, as he is the main character in the book.
As far as backstories go, in the book, Wonka seems to be an already-developed character. Readers don’t know any details other than his famous chocolate-making reputation, not where he’s from or his family. However, this movie gives readers and fans alike an origin story of Wonka, answering all the questions they might have.
Wonka is inspired by his mother who made chocolate whenever she could scrape together enough money for cocoa beans in this new adaptation.
His family was poor at the time, a stark comparison to where we see him in the other movies. His mother makes a promise that if he opens his shop and shares his chocolate with the world, she’ll be right there beside him, even with her passing.
In her Today Show article, Becca Wood describes her interview with Chalamet for his opinion. Chalamet explains that this younger model of the wild character isn’t based on Wilder nor Depp’s portrayals because “the story’s different.”
“It’s an original take,” he says. “There isn’t the factory, there aren’t the golden tickets, but those themes are kind of snuck in there.”
In the Depp version, Wonka falls in love with chocolate despite his father being a renowned dentist. After being addicted to chocolate his father kicked him out of the house and as an act of defiance, Wonka started his own factory. It accurately portrays the book but also takes on a slightly darker, more whimsical feel.
What all three movies have in common is that they each have taken bits and pieces from the book but put their own creative spin on it. There are some notable differences between each take on the classic story. For example, the replacement of the squirrels with geese who lay golden eggs in the 1971 version, rather than wanting a pet squirrel, Veruca wants a golden egg-laying goose.
“Wonka” still made references to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and still managed to keep Wonka as the center of attention. From the Oompa Loompa’s iconic orange skin and green hair to the inside of Wonka’s first Wonka bar being golden, “Wonka” is a stunning display of magic and wonder that tells his backstory better than any adaptation thus far.
If you want to see the best Wonka story thus far, “Wonka” is playing in theaters now, so make your inner child happy and see it while you can!