Andrew Garfield in ‘We Live in Time’. Photo: StudioCanal.
Nothing has been official released yet, but Guadagnino reportedly considered several scripts before landing on Simon Rich’s (‘An American Pickle’) about the wild true story surrounding OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
He co-founded OpenAI, but in the fall of 2023, after mounting safety concerns regarding AI, and reports of abusive behavior, was ousted as the head of the company by his board.
Five days later, after a revolt, he was reinstated in a story reminiscent of the return of Steve Jobs to Apple.
If all goes as planned, Garfield will play Altman, Barbaro will be chief technology officer Mira Murati, and Borisov has the role of Ilya Sutskever, a co-founder who led the movement to get rid of Altman.
We don’t yet know who Hoffman or Koch will be, but Barinholtz is in talks to be Elon Musk, who… well, does he really need an introduction these days after the last few months. At least it’s a good casting choice: Barinholtz is good at playing smug weirdos.
Along with Garfield, the new project marks a reunion for Guadagnino and Amazon, having made ‘After the Hunt’ and last year’s sizzling tennis drama ‘Challengers’ for the company.
What else is Luca Guadagnino working on?
Director Luca Guadagnino attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
As talked about above, the director had been busy developing ‘Sgt. Rock,’ which adapts the DC Comics character for the big screen. Daniel Craig reportedly considered the lead, but Guadagnino was locking in on Colin Farrell to star.
Yet weather conditions have reportedly stymied the production, and the aim is to have it rolling cameras next year –– though not with Guadagnino aboard.
Beyond that, he has a variety of other potential movies waiting in the wings, including a new adaptation of ‘American Psycho’ and romantic drama ‘Separate Rooms.’
When will ‘Artificial’ be in theaters?
Though ‘Artificial’ is clearly coming together fairly quickly, Amazon MGM Studios has yet to hand out a release date for the movie.
Guadagnino’s latest, the aforementioned ‘After The Hunt,’ which stars Garfield alongside Julia Roberts and Chloë Sevigny, is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 17th, signaling a potential awards contender.
(Left) Steven Knight attends the ‘All The Light We Cannot See’ New York special screening at Paris Theater on October 30, 2023 in New York City. Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Netflix. (Right) Daniel Craig in ‘No Time To Die’. Photo: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures.
Preview:
‘Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight is the write the next Bond movie.
We already know that ‘Dune’ director Denis Villeneuve will be the filmmaker charged with bringing 007 back to screens following the effective slate wipe that was Daniel Craig’s final outing, ‘No Time to Die’.
Knight is a fascinating choice –– while he has produced some truly great (and occasionally Oscar-nominated) work, he’s also had a few whiffs, such as ‘Serenity’ and ‘Locked Down’. But he is certainly an interesting person to work alongside Villeneuve on Bond.
“It has always been on my bucket list, and it’s fantastic to be invited to do it — I can’t wait to get started. I’m hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that’s the same but different, and better, stronger and bolder.”
“I very quickly discovered what it was about and became very excited and hopeful. And then the process is…you do some meetings, you discuss some ideas, and then you find out you’ve got it. I found out a while ago, but it was announced last night, which is great. It’s a high pressure job, but you’ve just got to do what you do, do it as well as you can.”
That’s the next big question that fans are looking to answer.
We’ve had a wealth of names speculated about since Craig hung up his holster and downed his last martini (and, er –– spoiler alert for ‘No Time to Die’ –– let’s not forget was blown up by a missile).
Pierre will next be seen in DC/HBO series ‘Lanterns’.
When will the new Bond movie be on screens?
With Villeneuve currently busy preparing to make the third ‘Dune’ outing (that one is scheduled for December 16th, 2026), we wouldn’t expect to see a new Bond much before 2027 at the earliest.
Amazon MGM Studios has announced that Denis Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond movie.
The news follows Bond shepherds Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson handing over control.
There’s still no official word on a new Bond.
At least one mystery surrounding the future of the Bond franchise can be laid to rest alongside the villains that our hero has killed in his years of service: we know who will direct the next 007 movie after the long hiatus following ‘No Time to Die.’
It might sound like a surprise –– and not least because of the filmmaker’s current busy schedule –– but despite his love of putting his stamp on projects, he’s worked comfortably in the blockbuster/franchise space before –– besides the ‘Dune’ movies, there was ‘Blade Runner 2049’.
Villeneuve is now part of a team that already includes producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal, and executive producer Tanya Lapointe (who has worked with Villeneuve for years).
Here’s what Villeneuve had to say on the news:
“Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since ‘Dr. No’ with Sean Connery. I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory. I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor. Amy, David, and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust.”
And here’s Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios:
“We are honored that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond’s next chapter. He is a cinematic master, whose filmography speaks for itself. From ‘Blade Runner 2049’ to ‘Arrival’ to the ‘Dune’ films, he has delivered compelling worlds, dynamic visuals, complex characters, and — most importantly — the immersive storytelling that global audiences yearn to experience in theaters. James Bond is in the hands of one of today’s greatest filmmakers and we cannot wait to get started on 007’s next adventure.”
Finally, Heyman and Pascal weighed in on the decision:
“Denis Villeneuve has been in love with James Bond movies since he was a little boy. It was always his dream to make this movie, and now it’s ours, too. We are lucky to be in the hands of this extraordinary filmmaker.”
That’s the next big question that fans are looking to answer.
We’ve had a wealth of names speculated about since Daniel Craig hung up his holster and downed his last martini (and, er –– spoiler alert for ‘No Time to Die’ –– was blown up by a missile).
Pierre will next be seen in DC/HBO series ‘Lanterns’.
The Amazon MGM movement comes, of course, after the surprise decision by 007 stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to hand the reins of the franchise over to the company for a hefty pay day.
Talking of…
Bond handover: the studio and producers’ comments
Daniel Craig as James Bond in ‘Casino Royale.’
This was Wilson’s comment at the time:
“With my 007 career spanning nearly 60 incredible years, I am stepping back from producing the James Bond films to focus on art and charitable projects. Therefore, Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future.”
And crucially, Barbara Broccoli:
“My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli. I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry. With the conclusion of ‘No Time to Die’ and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.”
Broccoli and Wilson stepping back is perhaps less of a surprise these days since she in particular has expressed frustration with the Amazon deal. And this way, the duo will have some small say in the future, but also enjoy what is surely a healthy payday.
When will the new Bond movie be on screens?
With Villeneuve currently busy preparing to make the third ‘Dune’ outing (that one is scheduled for December 16th, 2026), we wouldn’t expect to see a new Bond much before 2027 at the earliest.
Let’s not forget –– hiring a director is just the first step. Now the current Bond team needs a script and a leading man around which the build the new movie.
Luca Guadagnino is setting up new movie ‘Artificial,’ about the OpenAI executive shuffle.
Andrew Garfield, Monica Barbaro and Yura Borisov are in early talks to star.
Simon Rich wrote the script.
What do you do when your big, if unexpected plan to leap from the auteur indie world into the depths of the DC Studios cinematic universe doesn’t turn out quite the way you were thinking?
If you’re Luca Guadagnino, you pivot, go after a very different subject matter and look to work again with an actor who starred in your latest movie –– in this case, Andrew Garfield, who just starred for the director in the upcoming ‘After the Hunt.’
The trade site cautions that while Amazon MGM Studios is eagerly putting the pieces together, none of the deals are yet closed. Still, hopes are high for this one to be shooting in the summer in San Francisco and Italy and David Heyman –– the ‘Harry Potter’ producer who recently agreed to oversee the Bond franchise alongside Amy Pascal –– is also attached to this.
Director Luca Guadagnino attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
Again, we’d caution that this one is still not completely confirmed. But Guadagnino reportedly considered several scripts before landing on Simon Rich’s (‘An American Pickle’) about the wild true story surrounding OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
He co-founded OpenAI, but in the fall of 2023, after mounting safety concerns regarding AI, and reports of abusive behavior, was ousted as the head of the company by his board.
Five days later, after a revolt, he was reinstated in a story reminiscent of the return of Steve Jobs to Apple.
If all goes as planned, Garfield is eyeing the role of Altman, Barbaro will be chief technology officer Mira Murati, and Borisov could nab the role of Ilya Sutskever, a co-founder who led the movement to get rid of Altman.
Along with Garfield, the new project marks a reunion for Guadagnino and Amazon, having made ‘After the Hunt’ and last year’s sizzling tennis drama ‘Challengers’ for the company.
And the story of a controversial tech executive is not exactly unknown to Garfield, who famously appeared in ‘The Social Network.’
What else is Luca Guadagnino working on?
(L to R) Director Luca Guadagnino and producer Amy Pascal attend the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
As talked about above, the director had been busy developing ‘Sgt. Rock,’ which adapts the DC Comics character for the big screen. Daniel Craig reportedly considered the lead, but Guadagnino was locking in on Colin Farrell to star.
Yet weather conditions have reportedly stymied the production, and the aim is to have it rolling cameras next year.
Beyond that, he has a variety of other potential movies waiting in the wings, including a new adaptation of ‘American Psycho’ and romantic drama ‘Separate Rooms.’
Andrew Garfield in ‘We Live in Time’. Photo: StudioCanal.
Besides ‘After the Hunt,’ Garfield will next be seen in children’s movie ‘The Magic Faraway Tree,’ adapted from the Enid Blyton novel about a family discovering a magical tree with eccentric residents. That movie has yet to conjure up a release date.
He’s attached to various other projects, including ‘Voyagers,’ which would see him play astronomer, planetary scientist and TV host Carl Sagan in the story of the romance between Sagan and his wife, Ann Druyan.
Also on his list? ‘The Rage,’ a new Paul Greengrass movie set during the Peasants’ Revolt, a major uprising that took part across large parts of England in 1381 in response to socio-economic and political tensions and high taxation.
Finally, hopes remain that he’ll reunited with his ‘Silence’ director Martin Scorsese for the filmmaker’s passion project ‘The Life of Jesus.’
What other projects does Monica Barbaro have lined up?
Barbaro, who had a breakout role in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and scored an Oscar nomination playing Joan Baez in ‘A Complete Unknown,’ will be back on small screens next month in the second season of ‘FUBAR,’ the Netflix action comedy in which she stars alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Given that the deals are still being hammered out, Amazon MGM has yet to give this one a release date.
Guadagnino’s latest, the aforementioned ‘After The Hunt,’ which stars Garfield alongside Julia Roberts and Chloë Sevigny, is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 17th, signaling a potential awards contender.
Andrew Garfield in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
Amazon has officially hired producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman to oversee the Bond franchise.
They’ll replace longtime shepherds Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.
It follows the company securing creative control over the spy movie.
Forget M and Q, now we know a little bit more about who will be guiding Ian Fleming’s super-spy James Bond in future endeavors.
Following the recent change in Bond creative ownership (get all the details below), Amazon/MGM Studios has officially set powerhouse producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman to oversee the Bond franchise on screens big and (if Amazon has its way) small.
The news confirms rumors first floated by reporter Jeff Sneider, who brought word that Amazon was looking to bring in two giant producing veterans to steer the Bond movies.
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Pascal, of course, already has Bond bona fides (Bonda fides?), as when she served as Sony’s chairman of film, she oversaw the release and distribution of the likes of ‘Casino Royale,’ ‘Quantum of Solace,’ ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Spectre,’ which are among the most successful movies featuring the character.
She’s also been a key part of the ‘Spider-Man’ franchise and holds a wealth of experience bringing big movies to screens.
As for Heyman, he has a little franchise called ‘Harry Potter’ to his credit, one of the most successful movie series of all time. He’s also worked on a variety of other projects, including the ‘Paddington’ movies.
Producer Amy Pascal attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
Here’s what Amazon MGM Studios’ Head of Film, Courtenay Valenti had to say about the new recruits:
“We are approaching every creative decision with James Bond, which Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have so masterfully steered, with the greatest sense of responsibility. Part of an elite group of producers who have developed and managed massive film franchises to box office success and critical acclaim, Amy Pascal and David Heyman are two of the most accomplished, experienced, and respected film producers in our industry. We are honored to be working with them on James Bond’s next chapter and are excited to deliver to global audiences storytelling that upholds the impeccable legacy of this beloved character.”
And this was the statement from Pascal and Heyman:
“James Bond is one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema. We are humbled to follow in the footsteps of Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson who made so many extraordinary films and honored and excited to keep the spirit of Bond very much alive as he embarks on his next adventure.”
What happened with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson?
Daniel Craig as James Bond in ‘Casino Royale.’
In a shocking turn of events, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the longtime stalwart step-sibling powerhouse producers behind the last couple of decades of Bond films, relinquished control of the franchise and handed more creative decision-making to Amazon MGM studios.
It was perhaps not as surprising as it might have seemed, though: In 2022, Amazon bought MGM for $8.5 billion, acquiring a vast catalog with more than 4,000 films and 17,000 TV shows alongside the rights to distribute all of the James Bond films and to develop spin-offs (such as the frankly less-than thrilling reality competition show ‘007: Road to a Million,’ which saw Bond fans answering trivia questions –– posed by Brian Cox, no less –– in search of cash prizes).
But a key part of that deal was that the producers kept creative control of the character, deciding on who would play the main role, hiring directors and other key choices, while stopping ideas they didn’t approve of.
Yet it has seemed as though the pair were in something of a creative downbeat following the departure of Daniel Craig as Bond, with the character killed off in 2021’s ‘No Time to Die’ and little sign of forward movement.
Here’s what Broccoli previously told The Guardian on the past changes:
“I go back to ‘GoldenEye’ when everyone was saying ‘the cold war is over, the wall is over, Bond is dead, no need for Bond, the whole world’s at peace and now there’s no villains’ –– and boy was that wrong! Daniel gave us the ability to mine the emotional life of the character… and also the world was ready for it.”
And her comments on where they are with the next phase of the franchise from 2023:
“I think these movies reflect the time they are in, and there’s a big, big road ahead reinventing it for the next chapter, and we haven’t even begun with that. Our focus is making the feature films. When we get going on a Bond movie it takes our full attention for three or four years so that’s our focus. We make the Bond movies for the big theatrical screen and everything about the Bond movies is for audiences to see around the world on that format, so we’ve not wanted to do television.”
That seems likely to change going forward, as Amazon would clearly like to exploit new avenues.
As per details of the historic new agreement, Amazon MGM Studios, Wilson and Broccoli have formed a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights. The three parties will remain co-owners of the iconic franchise but Amazon MGM will have creative control.
Broccoli and Wilson stepping back was perhaps less of a surprise these days since she in particular has expressed frustration with the Amazon deal. And this way, the duo will have some small say in the future, but also enjoy what is surely a healthy payday.
Amy Adams in ‘American Hustle.’ Photo: Sony Pictures.
Preview:
Amy Adams is in negotiations for Taika Waititi’s new movie.
Jenna Ortega is already aboard.
The movie adapts Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel of the same name.
Taika Waititi last brought us the based-on-truth story ‘Next Goal Wins’, but for his next film, he’s going in an altogether more fantastical direction.
The director, who has worked on the likes of ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and ‘Jojo Rabbit’ is preparing to direct science fiction story ‘Klara and the Sun’.
‘Klara and the Sun’ charts the story of Klara (Ortega), an Artificial Friend designed to prevent loneliness. Klara is purchased by a mother (Adams) and a bright teen named Josie who adores her new robot companion but suffers from a mysterious illness.
Klara’s quest is to save Josie and those who love her from heartbreak and how in the process Klara learns the power of human love.
The original novel was published in 2021, written by ‘Living’ writer Kazuo Ishiguro, debuting on the New York Times’ Best Sellers Hardcover Fiction List at No. 3 and the Indie Best Sellers Hardcover Fiction List at No. 1.
Dahvi Waller, who has written on TV shows such as ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ‘Halt and Catch Fire’, crafted the adaptation, and Sony 3000 Pictures secured Waititi to direct last year, though the writers and actors’ strikes curtailed any chance to get it filmed in 2023.
But with Adams now closing in on a deal, the aim is to have the cameras rolling in the coming weeks.
And if that wasn’t enough positivity for you, the movie is produced by ‘Harry Potter’ veteran David Heyman, who also worked on both ‘Paddington’ movies and ‘Wonka’.
What’s next for Amy Adams and Jenna Ortega?
Jenna Ortega attends the world premiere of Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’ on November 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix.
Adams’ next film is the intriguingly titled ‘Nightbitch’, which was directed by Marielle Heller and is a horror comedy about an artist whose maternal instincts start to manifest as a dog.
As for Ortega, she recently finished work on Tim Burton’s ‘Beetlejuice’ sequel (which now has a title: ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ and will be out on September 6th this year). The actor will next film the second season of hit Netflix series ‘Wednesday’, which also has Burton involved.
The show is gearing up to shoot the new series in the spring.
(L to R) Dustin Hoffman and director Noah Baumbach on the set of ‘The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected).’ Credit: Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix.
Little is known properly about the plot of this untitled project yet –– all Deadline was able to discover was that it’s described as “a funny and emotional coming-of-age film about adults.” Which certainly has echoes of one of Baumbach’s earlier Netflix productions, ‘The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)’, which also starred Sandler.
And unlike some other recent films which Baumbach wrote with his longtime life and creative partner Greta Gerwig (including this year’s biggest success, ‘Barbie’), he worked on this one with actor Emily Mortimer.
Amy Pascal (more normally found shepherding Sony’s Spider-output) and David Heyman (best known for the ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Paddington’ movies will produce this new film, which has yet to announce when it might start and certainly doesn’t have a release date on the schedule yet.
George Clooney’s own latest directorial effort, historical sports drama ‘The Boys in the Boat’ comes to theaters on December 25th. He’s not on screen in that one, but will appear in ‘Wolfs’, the new film from ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy director Jon Watts, in which plays opposite ‘Ocean’s franchise friend Brad Pitt as one of two fixers who are assigned to the same job. That one doesn’t have a release date, but will hit theaters via Apple and Sony, presumably next year.
And talking of ‘Oceans’, Clooney recently told Uproxx that a script exists for a new instalment of the heist films.
Here’s what he said:
“We have a really good script for another ‘Ocean’s now, so we may end up doing another one. It’s actually a great script. I don’t want to call it ‘Ocean’s 14’, the idea is kind of like ‘Going In Style’.”
Adam Sandler has a Netflix deal much like Baumbach, and most recently released animated comedy adventure ‘Leo’. He has another film set to arrive on the streaming service, this time the sci-fi adventure ‘Spaceman’, which also stars Carey Mulligan, Paul Dano and Isabella Rossellini.
And he’s also reunited with Benny and Josh Safdie, who he previously collaborated with on ‘Uncut Gems’. Little is known about that one for now.
The two ‘Paddington’ movies are, it’s fair to say, a cultural sensation. Offering gentle charm, family-friendly slapstick, and scenery-chewing villainy from the likes of Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, they’ve been critically adored, commercially successful (to the tune of more than $500 million at the worldwide box office) and, more recently, referenced in Nic Cage meta-action-comedy. ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’.
King and producer David Heyman have now anointed Dougal Wilson as the chosen successor in the director’s chair, though King will remain attached as an executive producer, having written the movie’s story with previous ‘Paddington’ collaborators Simon Farnaby and Mark Burton. Burton, Jon Foster, and James Lamont wrote the script.
Wilson is something of an unknown quantity on the movie front, as he’s never directed a feature before. But he’s had a busy career in commercials for the likes of AT&T, Apple, and IKEA, plus a wealth of music video experience. Perhaps most tellingly, he’s also created several Christmas commercials for British department store John Lewis, which are known for their sweet stories.
The new movie will start shooting next year in London and Peru, and presumably sees Paddington heading home to his native land. Exact plot details and casting have yet to be revealed, though we’d expect Ben Whishaw back to voice the title character (he mostly recently did the job for a Queen’s Jubilee celebration short), while the previous two films have both featured the likes of Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, and Julie Walters.
“After ten years of working on the ‘Paddington’ movies, I feel absurdly protective of the little bear, and I’m delighted that Dougal will be there to hold his paw as he embarks on his third big-screen adventure,” said King in a statement. “Dougal’s work is never less than astounding: funny, beautiful, heartfelt, imaginative, and totally original. Aunt Lucy once asked us to ‘Please Look After This Bear.’ I know Dougal will do so admirably.”
Wilson comments: “As a huge fan of the first two films, I am very excited (if not a little intimidated) to be continuing the story of Paddington. It’s a massive responsibility, but all my efforts will be focused on making a third film that honors the love so many people have for this very special bear.”
Producer David Heyman also appears happy with the choice: “After an exacting search, we’re delighted that the brilliant Dougal Wilson will be directing the third ‘Paddington’ film. A much-garlanded legend within the commercials world, we have long admired Dougal’s virtuoso work, and his gift for directing with heart, humor, surprise, and vivid imaginative flair. He’s a wonderfully inventive kindred spirit for Paddington’s latest adventure with the Browns, and we’re thrilled to be working with him.”
Given the 2023 shoot, we wouldn’t expect the movie much before the end of that year or some point in 2024.
Hugh Grant in StudioCanal’s ‘Paddington 2.’
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In this clip, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, and Dixie Egerickx, director Marc Munden, and producer David Heyman talk about bringing Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic novel to life.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the story, here’s the official synopsis:
Set in England during a new time period in 1947, the film follows a young orphan girl who, after being sent to live with her uncle, discovers a magical garden on the grounds of his estate.
‘The Secret Garden’ will be available on demand on August 7.
That’s the official word from producer David Heyman (the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” franchises), who recently chatted with Collider about the project, and clarified the film’s classification. First and foremost, it’s not a remake/reboot, and it’s not a sequel — it’s a prequel.
Other than that, though, Heyman admitted that he and his fellow filmmakers “are still trying to figure out how to tell that story,” and more importantly, “what the story is.” Here’s how he explained the inspiration for the film to Collider:
“ … [W]hen we find [Willy] at the chocolate factory doing the golden ticket, where is he before that? What leads him to that place where he’s locked himself away?… It’s how does he get there? So we’re playing around with that.”
While director Tim Burton did attempt to give Wonka a backstory in his 2005 adaptation of the classic Roald Dahl novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” featuring an estranged dentist father, Heyman and co. are obviously going for something deeper with this flick. It sounds like there’s still plenty of work left to do before they’re ready to write a script, though — let alone cast someone in the iconic role.
Stay tuned to see if/when this project gets off the ground.
Preview:
