WithTimothée Chalamet’sWonkastreaming exclusively on Max, it seems only fitting that the stream would go back to the beginning.Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryis coming to Max on January 1. The film starredGene Wilderas the titular character. The movie (as well as the character from Chalamet’s film) was based on the work ofRoald Dahl,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The film is a classic, even if a certain tunnel scene still haunts many (including this author’s) nightmares.
The film’s logline is as follows:
“When eccentric candy man Willy Wonka promises a lifetime supply of sweets and a tour of his chocolate factory to five lucky kids, penniless Charlie Bucket seeks the golden ticket that will make him a winner.”
There have been multiple “explanations” over the years for the years for the name change from Dahl’s original title,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to the film’s final title,Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. At one point, directorMel Stuartwas quoted as saying, “If people say, ‘I sawWilly Wonka,’ people would know what they were talking about. If they say, ‘I sawCharlie,’ it doesn’t mean anything.“Dahl allegedly hated the filmand the changes they made to shift the focus more on Willy Wonka, rather than Charlie Bucket.
What Other Adaptations of Roald Dahl’s Novel Have There Been?
While many of Roald Dahl’s works have been adapted, includingJames and the Giant Peach, the BFG, and Matilda, there have been two major adaptations inspired by his bookCharlie and the Chocolate Factoryafter the 1971 film. The 2005 film, calledCharlie and the Chocolate Factory, was directed byTim Burtonand starredJohnny Deppas Willy Wonka andFreddie Highmoreas Charlie. The most recent return to the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was the 2023 prequel story,Wonka. Timothée Chalamet starred as the titular character in the origin story of just how Willy Wonka came to be.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factorywill be available to stream on Max January 1. Stay with Collider for the latest updates.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
A poor but hopeful boy seeks one of the five coveted golden tickets that will send him on a tour of Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory.
