Kit Connor and Taika Waititi are set to voice an animated twist on a Roald Dahl classic for Netflix.
Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory, coming in 2027, will star the Heartstopper breakout as the brand new character of Charlie Paley, with Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok director Waititi voicing Willy Wonka.
The New Zealand filmmaker is also an executive producer on the film. Jared Stern and Elaine Bogan direct the Netflix Animation Studio Original, working with Sony Pictures Imageworks.
Set in modern-day London, Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory is said to retain “the quintessential British charm synonymous with Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory while featuring a new adventure, original songs, brand new characters, and some surprising returns.”
It follows Wonka (Waititi), who has spent the years since the Golden Ticket contest behind bars — and not the chocolate kind — for the crime of turning a child into a blueberry. “Having served his time, Wonka returns to his factory determined to add a little sweetness to a bitter world,” reads a plot synopsis. “But one thing stands in his way: teenager Charlie Paley (Connor) and his friends. Facing eviction, this next generation of ‘rotten’ kids plot to break into the factory, nab a priceless Wonka Bar, and save their homes. But like many before them who enter the fantastical world of the factory, these kids are in for a bit more than they can chew.”
“I’m so excited to enter the wonderful world of Wonka,” said Connor. “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!”
Waititi lauded the work of Stern and Bogan. “[They] 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. He is so special to me, and the opportunity to voice such an iconic, eccentric candy genius — if a little mischievous at times — is hugely exciting.”
Hannah Minghella, head of feature animation and family film at Netflix Animation Studios, added: “With their singular comedic and visual flair, Jared and Elaine have concocted a delightful adventure that remains true to the spirit of Dahl’s beloved novel while imagining a brand new story that introduces this world to a new generation. We can’t wait for audiences around the world to experience the magic and mayhem for themselves when the film comes out next year.”
