WONKA

I grew up loving the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder and Peter Ostrum. The Roald Dahl novel the movie is based on was also a beloved book that I read a number of times during my childhood. So, my inner kid is geeked that a new movie, WONKA, is being released from Warner Bros. Pictures that explores Willy Wonka's early life and how he started the Chocolate Factory. 

WONKA arrives at movie theaters on December 15, 2023. Based on the extraordinary character at the center of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl’s most iconic children’s book and one of the best-selling children’s books of all time, “Wonka” tells the wondrous story of how the world’s greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker became the beloved Willy Wonka we know today.

   

From Paul King, writer/director of the “Paddington” films, David Heyman, producer of “Harry Potter,” “Gravity,” “Fantastic Beasts” and “Paddington,” and producers Alexandra Derbyshire (the “Paddington” films, “Jurassic World: Dominion”) and Luke Kelly (“Roald Dahl’s The Witches”), comes an intoxicating mix of magic and music, mayhem and emotion, all told with fabulous heart and humor. Starring Timothée Chalamet in the title role, this irresistibly vivid and inventive big screen spectacle will introduce audiences to a young Willy Wonka, chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time—proving that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible. 

Starring alongside Chalamet are Calah Lane (“The Day Shall Come”), Emmy and Peabody Award winner Keegan-Michael Key (“The Prom,” “Schmigadoon”), Paterson Joseph (“Vigil,” “Noughts + Crosses”), Matt Lucas (“Paddington,” “Little Britain”), Mathew Baynton (“The Wrong Mans,” “Ghosts”), Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (“The Shape of Water,” the “Paddington” films, “Spencer”), Rowan Atkinson (the “Johnny English” and “Mr. Bean” films, “Love Actually”), Jim Carter (“Downton Abbey”), with Oscar winner Olivia Colman (“The Favourite,” “The Lost Daughter”) and Hugh Grant (“Paddington 2,” “A Very English Scandal”). The film also stars Natasha Rothwell (“White Lotus,” “Insecure”), Rich Fulcher (“Marriage Story,” “Disenchantment”), Rakhee Thakrar (“Sex Education,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral”), Tom Davis (“Paddington 2,” “King Gary”) and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (“Paddington 2,” “Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” “Mary Poppins Returns”). 

While Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has inspired movies did you know that there is a sequel book by Roald Dahl that hasn't been made into a film? I remember being delighted by this second book as a kid as well. Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is available on amazon.com and if you appreciate Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory you should check it out. 

Last seen flying through the sky in a giant elevator in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie Bucket's back for another adventure. In Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, when the giant elevator picks up speed, Charlie, Willy Wonka, and the gang are sent hurtling through space and time. Visiting a space hotel, battling the dreaded Vermicious Knids, and saving the world are only a few stops along this remarkable, intergalactic joyride. Would you be interested in seeing a Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator movie? Are you planning on seeing WONKA on the big screen? That is a YES to both of those questions for me! 

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Disney brings Roald Dahl's children's novel THE BFG to the big screen

Four of my favorite children's books growing up were James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory plus its lesser know sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator written by British author Roald Dahl. During his lifetime, Dahl wrote numerous books for both young audiences and adults that have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide and additionally wrote the movie screen plays for 1967's James Bond: You Only Live Twice, 1968's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and 1971's Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory based upon his popular book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 2016 would have been the 100th birthday of the author who passed away in 1990.  In a touching tribute to the centennial anniversary of the author's life, Walt Disney Pictures is releasing on July 1, 2016 a movie adaption of a children's book Dahl wrote in 1982 titled The BFG that he had written in dedication to his daughter Olivia who had died at the age of seven from measles encephalitis.



The BFG - short for BIG FRIENDLY GIANT - tells the imaginative story of a young girl and a Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country.  In this film directed by Steven Spielberg, a young orphaned girl in London named Sophie sees a mysterious figure outside her bedroom window and slips out of the orphanage to check it out.  Sophia encounters the Big Friendly Giant (BFG) who explains that he nightly travels the Earth blowing dreams into the bedrooms of children and then transports the young girl with him to Giant Country where he shows her the wonders and perils of his homeland.

While initially scared of BFG, the 10-year old girl soon realizes that the Giant is actually quite gentle and charming.  BFG refuses to eat people and primarily eats a foul-tasting vegetable known as snozzcumber to stay alive.  The same can't be said for Bloodbottler, Fleshlumpeater and the other inhabitants who reside in Giant Country that are twice as big and twice as scary as BFG and also have a particular taste for including children in their diet.  Sophie's presence in Giant Country entices these other giants to head to London to go upon a feeding frenzy.

BFG and Sophia head to London to head off the giants and warn the Queen of this precarious situation.  They must convince the Queen and her maid, Mary, that giants really do exist and come up with a plan to get rid of their threat once and for all.

I have to admit not having read The BFG before learning about the upcoming release of this new Disney film.  Based upon my fondness for Roald Dahl's other work and Steven Spielberg's great track record of creating tremendous motion pictures our family will absolutely be heading to the movie theater this summer to see The BFG.  We'll probably pick up a copy of Dahl's book after we've seen the movie to read with my kids and see how it compares to its film adaption.

For more information about Roald Dahl's children's books visit www.RoaldDahl.com which features a great "kids section" that includes a quiz on which Dahl children's character you most resemble ( I'm Willy Wonka! ), craft ideas, and interesting background information about all his books ranging from The Enormous Crocodile to Matilda.

For more information about Disney's The BFG, visit movies.disney.com/the-bfg