Wonka: Rowan Atkinson and Olivia Colman join Timothée Chalamet in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory prequel

Timothée Chalamet starrer Wonka has more actors joining him and the production of the film finally kickstarted on Wednesday. The film features the Dune actor in the titular role and is the prequel to Johnny Depp starrer Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Wonka is based on the character from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl and is being directed by Paul King. However, the movie is based on the events set before the novel.

Now as per reports in The Hollywood Reporter, Rowan Atkinson, Sally Hawkins and Olivia Colman will also be featuring in Wonka playing pivotal roles. Whereas the other supporting cast as announced earlier include Keegan-Michael Key, Jim Carter, Mathew Baynton, Tom Davis, Simon Farnaby, Rich Fulcher, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Paterson Joseph, Calah Lane, Matt Lucas, Colin O’Brien, Natasha Rothwell, Rakhee Thakrar and Ellie White.

Earlier, the makers of Wonka had described the premise as "vivid, mythical beginnings of the imaginative young inventor before he becomes the renowned scrumdiddlyumptious Mozart of chocolate."

In Wonka, Chalamet will be showing off his singing and dancing skills for the very first time. As per reports in Deadline, the actor kickstarted the prep for the same earlier this year.

David Heyman, Luke Kelly and Alexandra Derbyshire are the producers of the film while Simon Farnaby and Paul King have penned the screenplay. The film production will go on till the next year as the makers have decided on a theatrical release of Wonka in 2023.

Before Depp, it was Gene Wilder who played the iconic character in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. The retro movie was directed by Mel Stuart. While Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was helmed by Tim Burton and released in 2005.