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The first trailer and images have dropped from Wonka, the musical prequel to 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Timothée Chalamet.
As expected, it’s promising lavish production numbers, bright colours, a slightly eccentric leading man (he’s got to follow in Gene Wilder’s footsteps after all) and – naturally – a lot of confectionary.
The massively anticipated trailer gives a first glimpse of the storyline for Timothée’s foray into the iconic character, as he fights to open up a chocolate shop, while a ‘cartell’ of chocolatiers attempt to shut him down.
Filled with dance numbers, bright colours, zany one-liners from Timothée, Wonka looks like an absolute blast, with the chocolatier sending people flying into the air – literally – with one of his magic hover-chocolates.
However, what has most captured fans’ attention, even their (pure) imagination, is the first glimpse at Hugh Grant as a 20-inch tall Oompa Loompa.
Hugh Grant is the ultimate Oompa Loompa in the Wonka trailer (Picture: Warner Bros)
His few lines in the trailer have already sent fans into overdrive (Picture: Warner Bros)
Yes, he is dancing (Picture: Warner Bros)
In keeping with the first film’s design, Grant’s character is orange-skinned with coiffured green hair and white eyebrows.
Dressed in a purple tweed suit with bloomers and matching pointy-toed pom-pom adorned shoes, the Bafta-winning actor, 62, looks equal parts really quite cute and also slightly scary.
This slight scariness quickly disappears however, as he pompously announces he is the perfect height for an Oompa Loompa, and then whips out a tiny flute and begins to dance.
People were living for seeing Grant in another comedic, irreverent film, following his triumphant turn as villain Phoenix Buchanan in Paddington 2, also written by Wonka director and scribe Paul King.
‘Roles I never thought I’d see Hugh Grant playing. The man’s career path has become fascinating recently,’ observed one fan, while another added: ‘Hugh Grant’s silly little guy phase continues to deliver.’
‘Hugh Grant is definitely in his IDGAF era every decision this man makes is insane and I love it,’ shared another.
There are plenty of joyous moments to come in the new film (Picture: Warner Bros)
The zany chocolatier sends people sky high with his magic treats (Picture: Warner Bros)
Timothée Chalamet expertly plays the iconic character (Picture: Warner Bros)
‘You had me at HUGH GRANT AS AN OOMPA LOOMPA,’ raved a different fan, while someone else admitted: ‘im sorry but im probably gonna watch that wonka movie only because hugh grant is credited as an oompa loompa and i need to see that.’
And as one person put it simply: ‘TINY HUGH GRANT YAAAAASSS.’
Fair enough!
Chalamet and Grant star alongside Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson and Keegan-Michael Key.
Wonka is set for release in UK cinemas on December 15, 2023.
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‘Hugh Grant is definitely in his IDGAF era every decision this man makes is insane and I love it.’
