New Willy Wonka Movie Coming From Harry Potter Producer

A new Willy Wonka movie is in the works at Warner Bros. and will be produced by Harry Potter veteran David Heyman, Variety and Deadline reported today.

Simon Rich (The Secret Life of Pets) will write the script. The focus of the story will be on Wonka, the wacky candy-maker, who was played by the late Gene Wilder in 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Johnny Depp in 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Michael Siegel, the manager of author Roald Dahl's estate, is producing the new movie alongside Heyman.

According to sources speaking to Variety, the movie won't be an origin story for Wonka, but will instead focus on his "early adventures." The 2005 movie contained some flashbacks that explained why Wonka liked candy so much, but his earlier days have not been explored in the books or movies. Whether any characters from the two books or the previous movies will be in the new film remains to be seen.

Dahl wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, but he never published any books dedicated to Wonka's story alone.

Tim Burton directed 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, while Mel Stuart directed the 1971 film. There is no word yet on who would direct the upcoming movie, who would play Wonka, or a release date.

Heyman produced all eight core Harry Potter films and also the upcoming spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

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