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Timothée Chalamet Explains Why Paddington 2 Fans Need to See Wonka
The actor opened up to Jimmy Fallon about why Wonka has made him want to act in more children's movies.
Timothée Chalamet has a new passion for making kids' movies. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 27-year-old actor opened up about making Wonka, his first musical and first role geared primarily toward a young audience. Spoiler: He loved it.
"Wonka is an origin story of Willy Wonka. This isn’t the Gene Wilder we all know and love, that’s sort of crazed and demented and looking to give his factory away," Chalamet explained. "This is the story of a young Willy who is ambitious and sensitive and joyous and naive."
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In fact, he said, it's "never been easier to talk about a movie."
"I’m coming from an after-school screening we did for a program called Afternoon All Stars," the two-time Saturday Night Live Host told Fallon. "We were just with two hundred kids, and I only want to make movies for kids now because it was just such a generous screening. Everyone was elated. And it’s a movie that leaves you with a smile on your face."
Wonka's got Paddington 2 vibes
Wonka is directed by Paul King and co-stars Hugh Grant, who worked with King previously on Paddington 2. "Paul King, as Hugh Grant said, he’s the human Paddington Bear," Chalamet gushed about the director.
King also helmed the first Paddington movie, though Chalamet seems to have a soft spot for the sequel, confessing "Paddington 2 is sort of the perfect movie. I’m super proud of Wonka, but Paddington 2..." If you've seen it, you'll get it—Paddington 2 really is a perfect movie.
How to watch Wonka
Chalamet and Fallon agreed that audiences of any age should see the movie in IMAX, if they can, to appreciate the sets, which were almost entirely practical, as opposed to CGI/green screen. Chalamet described it as a "fantastical London" with "tiny little British details." And though he didn't get to take any props home, the actor, who is nominated for a Golden Globe for his work in the film, admitted, "I did jack a jacket."
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For a preview of the pizazz Chalamet brings to the role, check out the Wonka-esque numbers he performed during his monologue when he hosted Saturday Night Live in November. There's singing, there's rapping, there's even Punkie Johnson dressed up like Nicki Minaj.
