Paddington Director In Talks For Willy Wonka

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paddington director Paul King is in talks with Warner Bros. to direct Willy Wonka, a reworking of Roald Dahl’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. King will work with producer David Heyman, who also worked on Paddington>

Wonka is the owner of a chocolate factory who appeared in the 1964 book and its follow-up Charlie and hte Great Glass Elevator. He also cares for the Oompa-Loompas, short beings that he saved in Loompaland who now make his candy. The story was previously adapted in 1971 with Gene Wilder and 2005 with Johnny Depp. The script for the latest version was written by Simon Rich.

This is the start of WB atempting to retool several of its properties. They hope that King will start a new franchise that will “stand out artistically.” Meanwhile, they are also remaking The Witches, with a script written by Guillermo del Toro. Robert Zemeckis is in talks to direct.