A CHARLIE and the Chocolate Factory prequel film is reportedly in the works with plans afoot for the film to feature a female Willy Wonka.
According to The Sun, studio bosses over at Warner Bros are seriously considering a new film featuring a high-profile female actress in the role of the iconic chocolatier.
“A female lead is being considered,” a source told the UK tabloid.
“Film bosses realise it could spark a backlash but believe a female Wonka is a great way to give the classic story a fresh look.”
Warner Bros. purchased the rights to the Roald Dahl character from the late author’s estate back in 2016.
Since then they have reportedly been working quietly behind the scenes on a fresh take on the popular literary and film character.
Paddington director Paul King is currently being lined up to helm the project, based on a script from Simon Rich.
According to The Sun’s report, the new film will focus on how Willy Wonka made his future and the origins of the iconic Oompa Loompas.
It will mark the third film to centre on Wonka and his famous chocolate.
The late, great Gene Wilder was the first actor to play the character on the big screen, appearing in the hit 1971 musical based on Dahl’s original children’s book.
That version featured the memorable musical hit “Pure Imagination” and has lived long in the memory, helped by a string of hit songs and several amusing internet memes.
Tim Burton turned his hand to a straight film version of the book in 2005, with the distinctly Gothic 2005 adaptation starring Johnny Depp as Wonka.
Despite the popularity of the original adaptation, Burton’s is considered by many to be more in keeping with Dahl’s original 1964 book.
Dahl was left far from happy with the 1971 film version, which he felt strayed too far from the original source material.
Dahl said he was "disappointed" with the finished film because "he thought it placed too much emphasis on Willy Wonka and not enough on Charlie", and also objected to the casting of Wilder over his choice for the role, Spike Milligan.
Dahl's second wife, Felicity, later reflected on her late husband's objections towards the film saying "they always want to change a book's storyline. What makes Hollywood think children want the endings changed for a film, when they accept it in a book?"
