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Ryan Gosling?
What do Ryan Gosling, Donald Glover, and Ezra Miller have in common? Besides quantities of handsomeness, not much. But all three are in the running to play Willy Wonka in Warner Bros. planned prequel to the classic Roald Dahl adaptation. The film will explore Wonka’s origin story answering questions we need answers to: where did his money come from, how did he decide to create a river of chocolate and as Collider asks, how the heck did he meet those Oompa Loompas anyway?
Ezra Miller?
Harry Potter producer David Heyman is onboard which is probably why Ezra Miller (Fantastic Beasts) is under consideration. He’s a good actor but to my mind, too young and just a touch too dark and creepy to fill Gene Wilder’s shoes.
Donald Glover?
Donald Glover is young as well but we know he can sing—if the prequel is a musical—and he’s hot, hot, hot right now.
Ryan Gosling. The clear choice to play Willy Wonka.
Which brings me to Ryan Gosling, the best, most obvious choice for the role. You regulars know he’s my not-so-secret crush so I’m pretty much in favor of him playing all roles, anytime, anywhere. But I think he has the requisite nuanced kindness/snarkiness Wilder’s Wonka captivated us with. And, despite what the haters say, Gosling can sing—and dance—so, as is clear, he should play Willy Wonka.
“I always thought Wonka WAS creepy though. Even as a kid, while I loved Gene Wilder's Wonka, I always felt it wasn't like the book. As much as people don't like Depp's Wonka, the film is closer to the book in story AND in weirdness. I think Ezra might be exactly how I imagined.’’
The film will be directed by Paul King of Paddington fame from a script by Simon Rich, a former SNL writer with Inside Out and The Simpsons on his resume.
Here’s the trailer for the classic movie from 1971 starring Gene Wilder.
What do you think? Who can fill Wilder’s shoes?
Because Ryan definitely knows how to wear
a pair of shoes with style.
Who can make the part his own?