If you cast your mind back to October 2016, you may recall that Warner Bros. had picked up the rights to Willy Wonka from the estate of Roald Dahl, tapping Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts producer David Heyman to develop a prequel movie based upon the classic character.
Well, according to THR, the project is now picking up pace and has found itself a director in Paul King, helmer of Paddington and Paddington 2, both of which were also produced by Heyman. King is said to be in final negotiations to sign on to the project, which has been scripted by Simon Rich.
Details on the project are being kept tightly under wraps, but it is being eyed as a potential franchise launcher. If rumours are to be believed, Ryan Gosling is keen on taking on the role of Wonka, previously portrayed by Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp.
King’s most recent film Paddington 2 holds a perfect 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and has grossed over $200 million worldwide.
