Film & TV1 min(s) read
Published 18:03 05 Mar 2020 GMT
New Zealand filmmaker and actor Taika Waititi will be writing, directing, and executive producing two original animated series for Netflix based on Roald Dahl's famous children's book Charlie and the Chocolate factory, Variety reports.
One will be based on the more well-known story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as penned in the 1964 novel, and the other will be based on the world of the Oompa-Loompa characters.
“The shows will retain the quintessential spirit and tone of the original story while building out the world and characters far beyond the pages of the Dahl book for the very first time,” Netflix said, per Variety.
Take a look at the trailer for 1971's Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder:
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The projects will be the start of a new partnership between Netflix and The Roald Dahl Story Company. This will include classics from the British author - such as Matilda, The BFG and The Twits being remade by the streaming giant.
Waititi is best known for writing and directing World War II satire, Jojo Rabbit, released earlier this year. The filmmaker won the Academy Award for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay for the film.
“In the words of Willy Wonka himself – we are ‘Delighted! Charmed! Overjoyed!’ with Taika’s appointment on this project. There is something undeniably Wonka-esque about Taika’s creative flair and inimitable sense of humor and we cannot think of anyone more perfectly suited to leading the creative charge on these first of their kind, feature quality Netflix shows,” said Gideon Simeloff, commercial and entertainment director of the Roald Dahl Story Company.
One of the best-known adaptions of Dahl's original novel is the 1971 movie musical, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder as Wonka and Peter Ostrum as poor paperboy, Charlie Bucket.
A more recent adaption was Tim Burton's 2005 version starring Johnny Depp as Wonka and Freddie Highmore as Charlie Bucket.
