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Donald Glover and Ryan Gosling lead actor shortlist for new Willy Wonka film

The Atlanta creator is said to be 'actively chasing' the role

Jacob Stolworthy

Wednesday 06 June 2018 10:34 BST

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Gene Wilder on modern film and Willy Wonka remake

The shortlist of actors detailing those in the running to play beloved Roald Dahl character Willy Wonka has reportedly been revealed.

Paddington filmmaker Paul King will direct another adaptation of the classic children's book which, according to Collider, will see either Ryan Gosling, Ezra Miller or Donald Glover play the mysterious chocolate factory owner.

The report states that Atlanta star and creator Glover - who appears in Solo: A Star Wars Story - has “actively been chasing” the title role.

Miller's credits include We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and DC mashup Justice League while Gosling is best known for his roles in Drive, The Notebook and La La Land. He'll next be seen in Damian Chazelle's Neil Armstrong biopic First Man.

Novelist Simon Rich (US series Man Seeking Woman) will write the screenplay with Harry Potter producer David Heyman overseeing proceedings. It's said to be a prequel that will detail the character's origin story and could be the first in a series of films.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

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1/12In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

Willy Wonka from 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'

Willy Wonka (pictured being played by Gene Wilder in 1967) is a bizarre and slightly unsettling man but who can say no to that delicious chocolate?

Getty

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

The Oompa Loompas from 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'

Despite the characters' questionable evolution from being African pygmies in early editions of the novel, the Oompa Loompas were so fantastical they captured the imagination of generations. The first film's version of the characters are still a popular fancy dress theme.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

Veruca Salt from 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'

The girl who "wants it now" is so incredibly vile she ended up in the rubbish after being judged a bad nut by Willy Wonka's squirrels. An American alternative rock band even took her name.

YouTube

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

The Twits from 'The Twits'

Mr and Mrs Twit are horrible, hideous and hateful, coating trees with glue to catch birds to at. But the Roly-Poly Bird and Muggle-Wumps teach them a lesson in the end.

Quentin Blake/House of Illustration

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

James from 'James and the Giant Peach'

James is beaten and starved by his cruel aunts after his parents are eaten by an escaped rhino but eventually gets to go on an adventure with the friends he has always waited for on his magic peach, ending up on the top of the Empire State Building.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

Matilda from 'Matilda'

Every little girl who read 'Matilda' wondered what it would be like to be the main character. Apart from th abusive family, the telekinesis must be endless fun.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

Miss Trunchbull from 'Matilda'

Miss Trunchbull, played by Pam Ferris in the 1996 film, is the aunt and headmistress of every child's worst nightmares. Just think of poor Bruce Bogtrotter and that cake.

YouTube

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

The Big Friendly Giant from 'The BFG'

A 24-foot-tall BFG works giving out good dreams to children and saves them all from people-eating giants. Shame about the snozzcumbers.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

The Grand High Witch from 'The Witches'

The Grand High Witch, seen here in the film, must be one of Dahl's most terrifying creations. Turning children into slugs and squishing them, she wanted to destroy them all, she had no hair or toes and claws for hands.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

Mr Fox from 'Fantastic Mr Fox'

Mr Fox outsmarts those silly farmers, feeding his family by killing their chickens and avoiding starvation.

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

George from 'George's Marvellous Medicine'

Some people would say that swapping your gran's medicine with poison isn't ok but that isn't the point here.

YouTube

In pictures: Roald Dahl's most enduring characters

Grandma from 'George's Marvellous Medicine'

Grandma was quite a character until she vanished: 'She was selfish grumpy old woman. She had pale brown teeth and a small pucker-up mouth like a dog's bottom.'

YouTube

Gene Wilder played Willy Wonka in a 1971 musical version of the novel while Johnny Depp portrayed the character in Tim Burton's 2005 adaptation.

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