The guest list at Willy Wonka’s factory just got even sweeter. Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, The Magic Faraway Tree), Charithra Chandran (Bridgerton, ONE PIECE), Samson Kayo (F1: The Movie, Bloods), Christopher Chung (Slow Horses, My Brilliant Career), Kate Winslet (The Reader, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), and Helena Bonham Carter (One Life, Nolly) have joined the voice cast of Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory, alongside previously announced stars Kit Connor (Warfare, Rocketman, Heartstopper) as Charlie Paley and Taika Waititi (Klara and the Sun, Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Love and Thunder) as Willy Wonka.
The new film from Netflix Animation Studios will open wide globally in theaters on Nov. 5, 2027, before arriving on Netflix on Dec. 22. Sony Pictures Entertainment will handle international distribution for the global theatrical release.
In Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory, Wonka (Waititi) has spent the years since the infamous Golden Ticket contest behind bars — and not the chocolate kind — for the crime of turning a child into a blueberry. Having served his time, he returns to his factory determined to add a little sweetness to a bitter world.
But one thing stands in his way: Charlie Paley (Connor) and his friends. Facing eviction, this next generation of so-called “rotten” kids hatch a plan to break into the factory, steal a priceless Wonka Bar, and save their homes. Like the children who came before them, however, they soon discover that the fantastical world inside the factory may be more than they can chew …
“I’m so excited to enter the wonderful world of Wonka,” Connor tells Netflix. “I was immediately caught by the early concept art and the directors’ vision for the film — capturing the spirit and heart that made the original story so special, whilst imbuing it with something so fresh and unique. It’s such a fun representation of the London that I know. This new adventure is going to surprise audiences around the world. You’re in for a treat!”
Directed by Jared Stern (The LEGO Batman Movie, Green Eggs and Ham) and Elaine Bogan (Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, Spirit Untamed), the film promises an imaginative new take on the beloved universe. Academy Award winner Aron Warner (Shrek) and Timothy Yoo (Back to the Outback, Green Eggs and Ham) are producing, and Academy Award winner Waititi is an executive producer.
Expect original songs, new characters, and even a few familiar faces, all wrapped in the signature British charm of Roald Dahl’s iconic world. “Having been raised on the delightfully twisted world of Willy Wonka, it’s a privilege to bring his continued adventures to life as twisted adults,” Stern and Bogan say. “And how sweet to do it like never before via the magic of animation, creating a Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory that’s more deliciously unhinged than your wildest imagination. If we do a rotten job, you can throw us down a rubbish chute!”
“Our directors, Jared and Elaine, have a bold vision befitting this new adventure whilst remaining sympathetic to the legacy, and I’m thrilled to play my part in bringing Willy Wonka to life in animated form,” Waititi says. “He’s so special to me, and the opportunity to voice such an iconic, eccentric candy genius — if a little mischievous at times — is hugely exciting.”
The world of Wonka will also extend beyond the screen and onto store shelves through two new global collaborations that will delight the young at heart and Wonka fans. Beginning this fall, Ferrero Group will launch its Wonka range with 10 seasonal and limited-edition products across chocolate, sugar confectionery, ice cream, and cereal in the US and select European markets, including the UK, France, Italy, and Germany. The collaboration brings a new spin to longtime Wonka fans through innovative products for all generations of chocolate and sweets lovers. Additionally, Moose Toys was recently announced as the master toy partner for the film, delivering surprising and innovative toys the toy company is known for to kids and families worldwide. The toy line will launch in 2027 closer to the film’s release.
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