Korean Netizens Are Buzzing With Excitement About Timothée Chalamet Playing The New Willy Wonka

On July 12, Warner Bros. released the first trailer for the upcoming film Wonka.

Based on the familiar story, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this new movie is a prequel that shows how Willy Wonka became the famous chocolatier he is today. To most people, actor Johnny Depp is the Willy Wonka they grew up.

However, a new Willy Wonka is stepping up to fill Johnny Depp’s shoes with the release of Wonka: Timothée Chalamet.

Timothée Chalamet | @tchalamet/Instagram

Best known for his roles in films such as Call Me by Your Name and Dune, Timothée Chalamet is an international star recognized for his fantastic acting skills and dashing good looks.

Timothée Chalamet in “Call Me by Your Name” | Sony Pictures Classics

He is famous in Korea, too, as the productions he acted in were well-known in Korea. Therefore, when the trailer for Wonka came out, many Korean netizens were ecstatic. His name was even trending on Twitter in Korea.

티모시 샬라메 얼굴은 듄이 더 좋은데 이상하게 캐릭터는 웡카가 더 좋다ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 보다보니까 커엽네,,,

— 예삐 (@yeronghuman) July 12, 2023

I like Timothée Chalamet’s face in Dune better but strangely I like Wonka as a character more lololol the more I look at him, the cuter he gets,,,”

— @yeronghuman

윌리웡카 그자체임 pic.twitter.com/eGDCiaUscS

— 나자루 (@nahzaloo) July 11, 2023

He is Willy Wonka himself

— @nahzaloo

목소리가 진짜 초콜릿마냥 달달함 ????
나 진짜 끊임없이 보고 있음..
티모시 그냥 윌리웡카 그 자체임 pic.twitter.com/TOgRkK9TfH

— élla (@ella_sweettimo) July 11, 2023

His voice is really sweet like chocolate ????
I’m watching it nonstop…
Timothée is Willy Wonka himself

— @ella_sweettimo

The comment section of the official trailer on YouTube was filled with expectations and excitement. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a movie many Korean people watched growing up, which made fans even more excited for this spin-off.

| Warner Bros. Korea/YouTube

• “I recommend it for the ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ generation, who will go to the theater and watch it more childishly than elementary school students hahaha”
• “Johnny Depp dominates at playing the mad oddball character, but the film deals with Wonka’s youth when he was young, passionate, and innocent, so Timothée Chalamet might fit. The Willy Wonka we saw in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ showed him when he had already closed his heart to the world.”
• “I was just curious before, but after watching the preview, I’m starting to look forward to it like crazy…”
• “‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ had a wacky atmosphere not only because of Johnny Depp but also because the director is Tim Burton lol So it’s natural that this production can look relatively calm. I hope ‘Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator’ comes out one day lol”
• “Timothée… How are you this handsome with an insane aura and genius acting skills”
• “Beyond Timothée Chalamet being handsome, he’s a face that can capture a diverse array of characters in different areas”
• “Who cares if it’s Timothée or Johnny… The masterpiece that made my childhood sweeter than any sweet snacks is returning.”
• “A Willy Wonka with a different charm than Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s combo  I’m looking forward to it ”
• “Oh my, oh my… Timothée as young Willy Wonka is incredible… It looks so fricking fun”
• “It looks like it would be the perfect movie to watch with family on Christmas, but why is it a 2024 release for Korea ㅠㅠ Please release it in December like in the States”
  • “If they’re going to push it anyway, it’d be great if they released it for 2024’s Lunar New Year so friends and family can watch it together”
• “Oompa Loompaㅠㅠㅠㅠ Long time no see ㅠㅠㅠ I really think I watched ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ twenty timesㅠㅠ It brings back memories ㅠㅠ”
• “It was already 18 years ago… When my parents played ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ on videotape, I was fascinated by the factory and Willy Wonka’s atmosphere, so I couldn’t come to my senses. I’ve seen it so many times. For me, Willy Wonka’s existence is a symbol of sweet fantasy and style.. I can’t believe that Willy Wonka is coming out as a movie.. It’s like a dream…”

Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka in “Wonka” | Entertainment Weekly

A few comments emphasized how as much as they love Timothée Chalamaet, they cannot let go of the iconic Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.

| Warner Bros. Korea/YouTube

• “It’s not that I hate Timothée, but after watching this trailer, I realize again how unique Johnny Depp was and how good he was at acting as a character switching between madness and peculiarity. In fact, in the Johnny Depp version, I didn’t even know Wonka was Johnny Depp;;”
• “I haven’t watched the movie so I can’t say for sure but I don’t think Timothée suits this kind of role. Wonka needs to have a bit more lunacy? with bright eyes and a mad image, but more than being weird, he suits Charlie more; he has too much of a kind and pure image”
• “Johnny Depp was the true Wonka
  He was crazy
  They said it’s the same producer as ‘Harry Potter’ so more than ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’ it feels like a new ‘Harry Potter’ movie”
• “It can’t beat Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s production, but I’m looking forward to seeing how different his charms will be from Johnny Depp’s Willy Wonka”

| Entertainment Weekly

Wonka will be released in 2024 in Korea.

Watch the trailer here.