Sources tell Variety Magazine that Warner Bros. has gotten the rights to the “Willy Wonka”. The Roald Dahl Estate has confirmed that Warner Bros. are planning a new movie centered around the charasmatic and eccentric character.
The studio has been trying to acquire rights from the Dahl Estate since the beginning of the year apparanelty and finally closed a deal earlier this fall. Dahl has only penned two books in involving Wonka:
the 1964 novel
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”
and the 1972 book
“Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator” but never wrote anything specifically focusing on the character of Willy Wonka. Heyman will produce with the manager of the Dahl Estate, Michael Siegel.
“The Secret Life of Pets” scribe Simon Rich is writing the script. Sources state that the film will not be an origin movie, but a "s
tandalone movie focused on Wonka and his early adventures". Wonka is the only one for now confirmed to be in the movie, however the doors still open to the possibilty of some of the original characters appearing. If the reboot is a hit, it seems likely that characters like Charlie could be seen in future installments of a possible start to a Wonka Cinematic Universe, but for now that is uncertain.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” has since been adapted into two feature films, most recently by Warner Bros. in 2005 with Tim Burton directing and Johnny Depp starring as Wonka.
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