Summary
- Fan art of Jeremy Allen White as Willy Wonka shows a striking resemblance to Gene Wilder.
- White’s intensity and ability to play morally ambiguous characters would make him great at portraying the darker side of Wonka.
- Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of a bubbly Wonka in the new film contrasts with the potentially more nuanced interpretation White could have brought to the role.
New Wonka fan art puts The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White in the titular role, and he looks strikingly similar to Gene Wilder. Timothée Chalamet stars as a young Wonka in the new film, offering his take on the role originated by Wilder and later portrayed by Johnny Depp. While Wonka‘s reviews suggest the movie has split some critics, it has had a fairly successful box office run so far.
Instagram art from @21xfour turns White into Willy Wonka. The artist included two images in the post: the first, a digital painting of White in the Wonka role, and the second, a vertical side-by-side of White and Wilder.
With his floppy blonde locks and befuddled stoicism, White looks shockingly similar to Wilder in the comparison photo. In the digital art, The Bear actor also looks fairly natural while adorned in Willy Wonka’s characteristic purple jacket.
Would Jeremy Allen White Make a Good Willy Wonka?
Known for playing Lip Gallagher in Shameless and Carmy in The Bear, White’s career has been characterized by roles of intensity and wit. This is not inherently fitting for Wonka, as a joyous candymaker exists in a far different universe than a stressed-out Chicago chef. Still, with the physical likeness to Wilder, the idea of White in the role is hard to ignore.
White would be great at portraying the darker side of Willy Wonka, given his experience with characters who oscillate wildly in likability.
In imagining White at the center of Wonka, it is worth noting how offbeat Wilder’s original performance was. As much as Willy Wonka is a charming character, his allure also has an unnerving quality. The Golden Ticket holders are subject not just to the joy of candy, but to a series of rooms that put them and their willpower to the test, punishing kids who fail. White would be great at portraying the darker side of Willy Wonka, given his experience with characters who oscillate wildly in likability.
Jeremy Allen White’s 10 Best Movies & TV Shows, According To IMDb
Throughout his career, Jeremy Allen White has starred in some great television dramas and indy darlings.
Instead of White, this year’s Wonka was graced with Chalamet, who plays a much more bubbly version of the character than White likely would. Chalamet himself has taken on a host of less-than-chipper characters, including roles in Dune, Beautiful Boy, and Call Me by Your Name. Enchanted by the power of invention and the opportunity presented by discovery, Chalamet arrives as a jovial version of the character who helps give Wonka its family-friendly charm.
Source: @21xfour/Instagram
Wonka
Wonka is a prequel film to Roald Dahl’s classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and follows the origins of the legendary candy maker. From his first encounter with the Oompa Loompas to founding his deliciously magnificent headquarters, Wonka explores the character in a new light. Timothee Chalamet assumes the role of Willy Wonka himself.
- Release Date
- December 15, 2023
- Director
- Paul King
- Genres
- Family , Adventure , Comedy
- Writers
- Paul King , Simon Farnaby
- Budget
- $125 million
- Studio(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
