Below is a MONDO Poster by artist Tom Whalen
Hey, folks here's some news: Warner Brothers studio is zeroing in on three actors to play Willy Wonka in a new movie.
Ryan Gosling (LA LA LAND), Donald Glover (SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY) and Ezra Miller (JUSTICE LEAGUE) are all in contention for the role of Wonka, according to Collider.com.
The new film would feature Wonka on his pre-CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY shenanigans, back when he was protecting Ooompa Loompas from Vermicious Knids. I'm kind of surprised that no one ever considers writing a sequel about Charlie Bucket in search of an heir.
My favorite film ever is WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. As much as I hate this idea... and I really, hate this whole idea, as nothing can get us, Gene Wilder, again, so why bother? ...I can concede that this short list actually rocks. All three of these guys, if I liked the story and material, would be acceptable to me as Wonka.
Ryan Gosling would be incredible as Wonka, especially as the Gene Wilder Wonka. He's got the perfect deadpan for Wonka's many "Wait, stop, don't" encounters and he even bears some resemblance to Wilder. He sings, he dances, he charms, and he's got major sass.
Donald Glover would be a great choice if you felt like making the edgiest, meta-est, wildest version of Wonka possible. He would bring twice what Gosling would to this role-- and I say that as a Gosling fan. He would nail the character perfectly, but all the things that come with Glover-- his Childish Gambino work, his comic timing, his genius understanding of presentation and delivery-- would get focused into Wonka and it'd be amazing. I'd like to see this just to watch the naysayers trip all over themselves trying to work out how to poo-poo the idea.
As for Ezra Miller... his intensity on WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN and his humor on JUSTICE LEAGUE both impressed me. He could certainly play a more Depp-like Wonka... but nobody wants that, I hope.
-- Precious Roy
