Warner Bros. is headed back into the candy-coated world of Roald Dahl with its big-screen prequel, 2023's Wonka.
Starring the likes of Timothée Chalamet and Hugh Grant, this movie musical expands on the world of Dahl's classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, telling the origin story of the franchise's iconic chocolatier along with a whole swath of other Willy Wonka adjacent characters.
Directed by Paddington's Paul King, Wonka will be another family-friendly affair for the filmmaker, coming to theaters right before Christmas to capitalize on eager moviegoers looking for something to watch over the holiday season.
Every Main Actor & Character in New Willy Wonka Movie
Timothée Chalamet - Willy Wonka
Stepping into the shoes left behind by the likes of Johnny Depp and Gene Wilder, Timothée Chalamet takes on the role of Willy Wonka in 2023's Wonka.
This prequel finds Chalamet's chocolatier laying the groundwork for his candy-making empire and dreaming up the factory that will ultimately become central to the Willy Wonka story.
Chalamet is one of the fastest-rising stars in Hollywood, having already appeared in massive movie hits like Dune, Lady Bird, and Little Women.
Calah Lane - Noodle
Calah Lane takes on the role of Noodle in the Roald Dahl prequel.
Noodle is a kindred spirit with Willy, making friends with the enterprising candymaker and being drawn to his optimism and whimsy after living life under oppressive forces like her employers Scrubbit and Bleacher.
Lane is best known for her work as Laurel in This is Us but has also appeared in Family Reunion, Firebuds, and Netflix's Hollywood.
Keegan-Michael Key - The Chief of Police
Wonka's dastardly chief of police is brought to life by comedian Keegan-Michael Key.
Key's Wonka character works under the employ of the Chocolate Cartel, being boots on the ground in their fight to keep new chocolate businesses out of their town.
Key previously starred in and helped create the sketch comedy series Key & Peele, with other credits in The Super Mario Bros Movie, Keanu, and The Predator.
Paterson Joseph - Arthur Slugworth
Playing iconic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory villain Arthur Slugworth is Paterson Joseph.
Slugworth is the leader of the Chocolate Cartel, controlling a candy-coated monopoly on the small town he rules over. He serves as the primary villain of Wonka, trying to stop Willy from getting his sugar-infused dreams off the ground.
Joseph's past work includes The Beach, Neverwhere, and Aeon Flux.
Matt Lucas - Prodnose
Working under Arthur Slugworth is Matt Lucas' Prodnose. Podnose is another chocolate maker (and member of the Chocolate Cartel) with an interest in stifling Willy Wonka's chocolate-making ambitions.
Lucas' best-known credits include Bridesmaids, Little Britain, and the Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland films.
Mathew Baynton - Ficklegruber
Another leading member of the Chocolate Cartel consortium is Ficklegruber (played by Mathew Baynton).
Being one of the overbearing candy makers at odds with Willy Wonka, surely Chalamet's charismatic lead man will win him over with a little sugar, spice, and everything nice.
Baynton is one of the creators of the hit British sitcom Ghosts as well as having previously appeared in The Wrong Mans, Bill, and Tonight You're Mine.
Sally Hawkins - Willy Wonka’s Mother
Never before seen on-screen has been the mother of Willy Wonka; however, that all changes in Wonka.
Sally Hawkins brings to life the Wonka family matriarch, shaping her son's ambitions and opening up his mind to dream whatever he sees fit.
Hawkings is an Academy Award-nominated actress known for her roles in The Shape of Water, Blue Jasmine, and Happy Go Lucky.
Rowan Atkinson - Father Julius
Rowan Atkinson takes on the role of Father Julius in Wonka.
Father Julius is the corrupt cleric and one of the bad actors dampening the fun in the film's small town. He also works under the umbrella of the Chocolate Cartel.
Being one of the most recognizable names in British comedy, Atkinson will be familiar to fans of Mr. Bean, The Lion King, and Man vs. Bee.
Jim Carter - Abacus Crunch
Abacus Crunch (played by Jim Carter) is one of the locals on the side of Chalamet's Willy Wonka.
While hampering the young entrepreneur's expectations about the future of his candy-making business, he is the first to tell Willy about the dangers of the Chocolate Cartel.
In the film, Crunch is one of the residents trapped under Bleacher and Scrubbit's illegal operations, and this is where he meets Willy.
Crunch is also Slugworth's former accountant who discovered his evil schemes.
Carter's past credits include Downton Abbey, Transformers: The Last Knight, and Shakespeare in Love.
Tom Davis - Bleacher
Tom Davis plays Bleacher, a local businessman who - along with Mrs. Scrubbit - employs the talents of Calah Lane's Noodle.
Aside from Noodle, Bleacher also tricks Willy into getting an affordable room in Mrs. Scrubbit's apartment, and it is later revealed that the paper that he signed was an employment contract instead.
Davis can also be seen in Paddington 2, Murder in Successville, and Free Fire.
Olivia Colman - Mrs. Scrubbit
Described by filmmaker Paul King as a "proper Dahl-esque grotesque character" (via Empire) is Olivia Colman's Mrs. Scrubbit.
She is a crooked-nosed nasty Scrooge-like figure whom Noodle, Willy, and the others work for.
Scrubbit is also in cahoots with Arthur Slugworth due to the latter's hidden ties to Noodle.
Colman is an Academy Award-winning actress, having won for her work on 2018's The Favourite. But she has also appeared in such titles as The Crown on Netflix and Marvel Studios' Secret Invasion.
Hugh Grant - Lofty
Hugh Grant plays the original Oompa-Loompa, Lofty.
Lofty is the first pint-sized helper to Willy, coming from a faraway land to steal Mr. Wonka's chocolates due to a long-standing debt.
It is revealed that Willy stole something from the Oompa-Loompa's homeland, leading to Lofty's crusade in annoying the chocolate maker.
Grant previously appeared in Love Actually, Notting Hill, and Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Natasha Rothwell - Piper Benz
Natasha Rothwell's Piper Benz is one of the workers who were tricked by Bleacher and Scrubbit into working for them.
Piper is also one of the locals supportive of Willy's dreams of dethroning the Chocolate Cartel and starting his candy-making business.
Rothwell previously worked as a writer on Saturday Night Live as well as appearing in HBO's The White Lotus and Insecure.
Rich Fulcher - Larry Chucklesworth
Rich Fulcher's Larry Chucklesworth is a local comedian who became one of the workers of Bleacher and Scrubbit.
Similar to Abacus and Piper, Larry also helps Willy in sneaking in and out of the Scrubbit's place to achieve his chocolate-making dreams.
Fulcher can also be seen in The Mighty Boosh, Marriage Story, and Disenchantment.
Rakhee Thakrar - Lottie Bell
Lottie Bell (played by Rakhee Thakar) is a local telephone operator in Wonka and one of the trapped individuals who work under Bleacher and Scrubbit.
While she doesn't talk much at first, Willy and the others are surprised when they learn that she is actually a telephone operator before being tricked into working for the devilish pair.
Thakrar just finished a run as Emily Sands in the hit Netflix series Sex Education but will also be familiar to fans of Page Eight, and EastEnders.
Tim Fitzhigham - Ship Captain
Captaining the ship that brings Willy home from his journeys abroad at the start of the film is Tim Fitzhigham's Ship Captain.
Fitzhigham's past credits include Hereafter, Paddington 2, and Booked Out.
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith - Honest Police Officer
Kobna's Holbrook-Smith is the police officer who works alongside the Chief of Police.
While his boss works for the Chocolate Cartel, Holbrook-Smith's unnamed officer is one of the good guys who arrest his boss at the end of the movie.
The Ghanaian-British actor is best known for his work in Mary Poppins Returns and Zack Snyder's Justice League.
Simon Farnaby - Bash
Simon Farnaby is a British comedian and actor who plays Bash, the Zoo security guard that Willy and Noodle tricks into eating a chocolate so that they can get in to get the giraffe's milk.
Farnaby's previous credits include Ghosts and Paddington 2.
Colin O’Brien - Young Willy Wonka
Colin O'Brien is an up-and-coming talent joining the Wonka cast, and he plays the younger version of Timothée Chalamet's titular character.
Wonka marks the actor's first major big-screen acting credit after appearing in TV series like Grey's Anatomy and Dear Edward.
Ellie White - Gwennie (Mistress of the Eye)
British comedian Ellie White appears as a part of Wonka as Gwennie.
The character is also known as the Mistress of the Keys, the lady guard who is assigned to oversee the Chocolate Cartel's vault.
White's previous work includes Ellie & Natasha, Black Mirror, and Class Dismissed.
Tracy Ifeachor - Dorothy Smith
British TV and film actress Tracy Ifeachor appears as Wonka as Dorothy Smith, Noodle's estranged mother who thought that her daughter was dead.
The actress has notable major video game performances this year in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Starfield, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Isy Suttie
Isy Suttie is a stand-up comedian known for her musical stylings on stage, making her a perfect fit into the melodic mayhem set to ensue in Wonka.
Suttie's past credits include Peep Show, Whites, and Skins.
Freya Parker - Miss Bon-Bon
British character actor Freya Parker appears in Wonka as Miss Bon-Bon, Slugworth's loyal assistant and the Chocolate Cartel's butler.
Parker is best known for her appearances in Jurassic World Dominion, The Nerves, and Late Night Mash.
Justin Edwards - Green-Skinned Customer
Justin Edwards plays one of the customers who was accidentally poisoned due to the shenanigans of the Chocolate Cartel. The character's skin transforms into green after eating one of Willy Wonka's chocolates.
Wonka marks Justin Edwards' second collaboration with director Paul King after having previously played a bit part in Paddington 2.
The actor has also appeared in 1917, Thor: The Dark World, and Black Mirror.
Wonka comes to theaters worldwide on Friday, December 15.
