WONKA Director Teases Sequel: ‘Material to Work From’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Following WONKA’s success, director Paul King says he’s open to the idea of a sequel.
In an interview with Screen Rant, King said, “I would love to make another Willy Wonka film if we can find the right story…This is a character Dahl came back to again and again, he felt there was mileage in it and he’s a storyteller a billion miles above anything I could ever dream up.”
WONKA “provides an origin story for Willy Wonka by depicting his early days as an aspiring chocolatier…[and] grossed over $617 million worldwide to become the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2023,” according to Screen Rant.
The director mentioned that if there were to be a sequel, the storyline would occur somewhere between the WONKA movie and CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.
“So, there is material to work from. I think if we came back to the character, it would probably be between here and Charlie because there’s 30 years there to explore,” he explained. ‘
However, he doesn’t want to rush the process.
“Let’s just take it for a walk and keep calm, and it was about 50 years between the Gene Wilder movie and our one. We can wait a beat, and if we don’t come up with a story, this is a movie with a beginning, a middle, and end that works on its own,” King said.
“Of course there are some ideas sloshing around, but we don’t have a story yet, so we’ll see what happens,” he added.
Movieguide® praised WONKA’s “Strong moral, capitalist worldview about good triumphing over evil through the magic of joy and great dreams.” The family-friendly movie was also nominated for a Movieguide® award. Part of the review reads:
WONKA is a very fun, funny movie, one of the most entertaining movies of the year. There are many fun and memorable songs throughout the movie, which makes it a delight to watch. WONKA shows good triumphing over evil through the magic of joy and great dreams. It also supports the little entrepreneur starting his own little business in the face of a government-sanctioned cartel. However, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older pre-teens because the cartel has bribed the police and a cathedral and its clerics with chocolate they can’t resist.
WONKA found major success at the box office thanks to its uplifting story. Movieguide® reported, “A month after its release, the title has now become the most popular adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic story, surpassing Johnny Depp’s 2005 performance.”
Movieguide® reported:
WONKA currently sits at $510.5 million at the international box office, cleanly surpassing CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY’s total of $474.9 million. Though Willy Wonka is an enduring character in pop culture, WONKA’s success is nonetheless surprising as the movie ran a relatively low-profile promotional campaign.
Box office success, however, is not everything when it comes to this beloved Dahl character. With two iconic renditions of Willy Wonka already inhabiting the public’s mind, Chalamet’s character is not guaranteed to become the definitive version, though it holds the box office crown.
Though beloved today, Gene Wilder’s 1971 version was a box office flop, only making $4 million worldwide during its release. It wasn’t until its run on VHS and cable that it captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences to reach the classic status it holds today.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
