The Willy Wonka film in development at Warner Bros apparently has a casting shortlist of just three names: according to a report from Collider, the race to land that iconic role is between Donald Glover, Ryan Gosling and Ezra Miller.
In Solo: A Star Wars Story, the role of Lando Calrissian gave Donald Glover a chance to show off his charisma – and his ability to pull off funky outfits – at the blockbuster level. His star has been rising in recent years, and he could bring a lot of hype and fans to the project, along with his huge talent.
Ezra Miller has also stepped up to the blockbuster plate in recent years, with his roles in Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them and Justice League allowing him to show his range: he can do geeky cool and villainous creepiness, so he could probably do Willy Wonka as well.
And Ryan Gosling is obviously a huge star. He showed a solemn side in Blade Runner 2049 recently, and La La Land gave his more theatrical side a sizeable chance to shine.
Any of these actors could make a wonderful Willy Wonka, and we’ll let you know if we hear any more about the casting developments.
Paddington director Paul King and Harry Potter producer David Heyman are heading up the project at Warners, with Simon Rich of Man Seeking Woman working on the script. The film is rumoured to be a prequel, set before the Chocolate Factory opened.