Timothée Chalamet to play as young Willy Wonka in new origin film

Timothée Chalamet will play as the eccentric chocolate maker in the upcoming Wonka origin movie.

As reported by Deadline, the Oscar-nominated star is set to take on the iconic role of Willy Wonka in the new prequel movie inspired by Roald Dahl's 1964 classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Although other details remain under wraps, the musical film will reportedly focus on the younger version of Wonka and his adventures before he opened his famous candy factory. Paddington director Paul King is attached to helm the film with a screenplay from Simon Farnaby. The film is slated to begin production this September.

Chalamet, who will "show off his singing and dancing skills" in the upcoming Warner Bros. reimagining, will be the third actor to play the titular role.

Gene Wilder first portrayed the famous chocolatier in the 1971 film adaptation Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. In 2005, Warner Bros. came out with a Tim Burton remake featuring Johnny Depp as the quirky candy factory owner.

Apart from the prequel movie, Netflix is also developing two animated series based on Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Academy Award-winning director Taika Waititi set to write, direct, and executive produce the projects.

Netflix previously said that the first animated series will be based on the world and characters created by Dahl while the second is a wholly original take on the Oompa-Loompas, who will star in their own event series.

Wonka will hit theaters on March 17, 2023.

(Images from IMDB)