This July unfurled a cinematic treat with Hollywood's darling, Timothée Chalamet, unveiling his latest masterpiece. The much-anticipated trailer for "Wonka" (2023), set to grace screens in this December, made a grand debut. "Wonka" promises to be a splendid prequel* to Tim Burton's whimsical 2005 rendition of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," where Johnny Depp splendidly portrayed the eccentric chocolate inventor, Willy Wonka.

*Prequel: A literary, dramatic, or cinematic work whose story precedes that of a previous work

Chapter 1
Roald Dahl's 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' 

While known to many of us through its film adaptation, 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' is actually a children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. Among Dahl's works, 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' published in 1964, remains a beloved story to this day. 

 

The novel begins with the story of a young boy named Charlie Bucket. Charlie, along with other children, acquires the Golden Ticket* that allows them to tour the mysterious chocolate factory owned by Wonka. Following Wonka through the factory, the children experience a series of miraculous and fantastical rooms, completely different from the outside world. From a river made entirely of chocolate to trees bearing candy, Wonka's chocolate factory is a place where every child's dream becomes a reality.

*Golden Ticket: A ticket hidden in chocolate bars sold by Wonka's chocolate factory. Only five such tickets exist worldwide.

 

 

Wonka had a reason for planning the factory tour. It was to find a successor for his chocolate factory. The children aspiring to be the successor try their best to be chosen by Wonka. In the process, they reveal personalities just like their parents. The greedy and selfish children pay the price for their actions, being eliminated from the tour. They fall into the chocolate river or inflate like balloons. Roald Dahl's 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' is a story of magical adventure, while also teaching the lesson that children are mirrors of their parents.

 

 

Chapter 2

A Symphony of Sweet Musical Films 

 

Roald Dahl's 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' has been made into movies three times, all of them musicals. The first was the 1971 film directed by Mel Stuart, 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.' In the movie, songs such as 'The Candy Man' sung by the candy store owner at the beginning, and 'I've Got a Golden Ticket' from the scene where Charlie finds the golden ticket, became famous. 'The Candy Man' was later used in Apple's iPhone 12 Purple advertisement.

Tim Burton's 2005 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' was more faithful to the original novel. Like in Roald's novel, only the Oompa-Loompas, the workers of the chocolate factory, sang songs. There are 165 Oompa-Loompas, characterized by their small stature compared to children. In 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' the Oompa-Loompas sing whenever a child is eliminated, humorously turning the reason for their elimination into a song.

In the movie, all Oompa-Loompas look the same. This is because a single actor played all 165 Oompa-Loompas. Deep Roy had to shoot the same scene dozens of times to play all the Oompa-Loompas.

Chapter 3

The Grand Return of Wonka! 

The story of Roald Dahl's 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' has returned after 18 years. The newly released film 'Wonka' tells the past story of the genius chocolate inventor and factory owner Willy Wonka. Directed by Paul King, celebrated for the British children's literature classic 'Paddington' (2014), Timothée Chalamet plays the lead role as the eccentric chocolatier* Willy Wonka. Additionally, Hugh Grant, famous for 'Notting Hill' (1999) and 'Love Actually' (2003), plays a significant role as an Oompa-Loompa, creating a buzz.

*Chocolatier: An artisan who specializes in making chocolate.

 

Fans who enjoyed Tim Burton's 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' will find the upcoming 'Wonka' even more enjoyable. Paul King's 'Wonka' is also a musical film, featuring more musical scenes than 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' It tells the story of how Willy Wonka became the greatest chocolatier and how he met the Oompa-Loompas. You can discover the story of Wonka that you were curious about while watching 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.'

In a tribute to the timeless Willy Wonka, Kensington Hotel Yeouido is set to host the 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Special Exhibition' from November 4th in Seoul, Korea. This exhibition is a treasure trove, showcasing relics such as Gene Wilder's signed 'Golden Ticket,' Freddie Highmore's iconic costume as Charlie, and the Wonka bicycle. Before the grand unveiling of 'Wonka,' immerse yourself in the world of Willy Wonka through these remarkable artifacts.