Donald Glover reportedly features on a shortlist for possible lead actors in a new Willy Wonka movie. The Collider claims that Warner Bros. are in talks with the actor and musician, who is in the running to play the chocolate factory owner in a new Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory spin-off. Warner Bros. also hired the director Paul King – who most recently led the new Paddington 2 film – for the project four months ago. Harry Potter producer David Heyman and screenwriter Simon Rich are also involved. Advertisement Alongside Donald Glover, actors Ryan Gosling and Ezra Miller (who stars in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) have also been shortlisted for the role. The new Willy Wonka title will not be a remake of the iconic original.. Adapted from Roald Dahl’s 1964 book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Gene Wilde starred as Willy Wonka in the 1971 film version, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Johnny Depp later starred as Willy Wonka in a 2005 reboot. This forthcoming title, however, looks set to head in a different direction. It is reportedly a prequel exploring the chocolate factory owner’s origin story, and how he came to acquire the magical premises. Donald Glover is also slated to voice Simba in an upcoming live action Lion King remake, and is currently shooting season 2 of his television show Atlanta. Most recently, he played Lando Calrissian in the recent Han Solo Star Wars spin-off Solo: A Star Wars Story. Speaking about his character last month, Glover shared his pitch for a film based on Lando Calrissian’s life. Advertisement “It would be cool to see, like, Frasier in space— like, a high-end guy in space,” he said, speaking to Entertainment Weekly Radio. “All of these characters are very specific and they have very specific points of view, so it’s always going to be fun to see them traveling around to a planet that is the opposite of what they’re used to. And all of that seems like it would be fun to write, for sure.” As well as his acting work, Glover is a prolific musician, and returned as Childish Gambino earlier this year with new single ‘This Is America’.<doc-sep>Donald Glover might play Willy Wonka, and this is the only movie that matters now Donald Glover’s career trajectory might be moving to a chocolate-paved path. After his groundbreaking This Is America release and kicking ass as Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story, the 34-year-old actor, writer, and rapper may soon be taking on another iconic role: Willy Wonka. And yes, we know what you’re thinking — this is what dreams are made of! Collider reports that Glover is one of the three actors shortlisted to portray the chocolate factory owner in an upcoming Willy Wonka film. Ryan Gosling is also in the running, as is Ezra Miller. Glover, Gosling, and Miller — aka our internet boyfriends — vying for the same role? We’re screaming. The news comes just four months after Warner Bros. tapped Paddington director Paul King to take the reins on the film. But instead of making yet another adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1964 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this one will be a prequel, detailing Willy Wonka’s origins before he amassed a massive candy empire. Harry Potter producer David Heyman is set to produce, with Man Seeking Woman writer Simon Rich penning the script. If we’re being honest here, we’re glad we’re not one of the casting directors because all three actors are very much capable of shining as this iconic character. We’ve already seen Ezra Miller’s propensity in portraying a variety of roles, including playing a teenage psychopath in We Need to Talk About Kevin to starring as The Flash in Justice League. Ryan Gosling isn’t a bad choice either. I mean, have you seen La La Land, Drive, and Lars and the Real Girl? And don’t get us started on Donald Glover. He already bagged the role of Simba in Disney’s live-action remake of The Lion King, and he’s recently starred in big-ticket projects like The Martian, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Solo: A Star Wars Story. And besides, should Warner Bros. decide to make the Willy Wonka film a musical, we know Glover’s got what it takes.<doc-sep>When news broke that Warner Bros. was finalizing a deal to revamp Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, the collective response was, "Do we really need another one?" The general consensus might shift, however, now that a stellar shortlist of actors has been released. According to Collider, Donald Glover, Ryan Gosling, and Ezra Miller are being considered for the titular role previously made famous by Gene Wilder. With casting options like that, you really can't go wrong. Though the role is something a seasoned actor like Gosling could easily handle, the La La Land star might lack some of the fearless whimsy the other two actors seem to master. While Miller transforms into any role he's given from Justice League's The Flash to Fantastic Beasts's tortured Credence, it would be incredible to see Glover take on another project of this scale following his turn in Solo and Disney's upcoming Lion King reboot. The remake will be directed by Paul King, who previously made everyone fall in love with Paddington. The producer behind the entire Harry Potter film franchise, David Heyman, has also signed on to produce. The remake will reportedly take the story in a new artistic direction with potential for several sequels, so whoever is chosen as the star will have to be in it for the long haul.<doc-sep>
Donald Glover is ready to jump into his next project: playing Willy Wonka. There are new reports that the 34-year-old Solo: A Star Wars Story actor is just one of three A-list actors being chased for an upcoming Willy Wonka origins film, according to Collider. Warner Bros has begun putting together a shortlist of stars for the legendary role, and it's said to be led by Glover and his fellow actors Ryan Gosling, 37, and Ezra Miller, 25. Willy Wonka: Donald Glover, 34, is reportedly up for a role starring as the legendary candy maker. The new movie will focus on Wonka's origin; seen in late May He could make it too: Ryan Reynolds, seen here in 2017, is also a contender The project is rumored to be a prequel that will explore Wonka’s origin. They're hoping to answer questions like: How did he gain his fortune? How did he meet those Oompa Loompas? The whole idea hails from Harry Potter producer David Heyman and screenwriter Simon Rich. Paddington director Paul King is on board to direct it. There haven't been too many more details spilled since the movie is in the early stages of casting. The first: Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, directed by Mel Stuart, in 1971 He did a version too: Johnny Depp stars as Willy Wonka in 2005's Charlie And The Chocolate Factory But it's obvious the father-of-two is the wildcard choice. Glover has very busy between his hit FX series Atlanta and his music career, but on the film side, all he has coming up is the voice of Simba in Disney’s live-action remake of The Lion King. Gosling has worked for Warner Bros a few times before on Blade Runner 2049, The Nice Guys and Gangster Squad, while Miller is in Warner Bros' Fantastic Beasts and DC Universe franchises. But, there's talk that Glover has actively been chasing this role. And what a difference it would be with him than Johnny Depp, who led Tim Burton‘s 2005 adaptation of the novel. Gene Wilder will always be remembered as the definitive Willy Wonka. Johnny Depp stepped into a remake in 2005.