“Wonka Director Commends Timothée Chalamet’s Vocal Talent, Emphasizes Non-Musical Approach in Film”
In a recent interview with Total Film, Paul King, the director of “Wonka,” took a moment to express his admiration once again for his lead actor, Timothée Chalamet. King, promoting the upcoming adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved classic “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” highlighted Chalamet’s remarkable singing abilities.
“He possesses a truly beautiful singing voice,” King enthusiastically shared with the publication. “It evoked memories of the legendary Bing Crosby. Timothée’s vocal range is quite impressive, as the film features both grand, show-stopping musical moments and intimate, emotionally charged ones, and he excels in all aspects. I might come across as a fervent admirer here, but he genuinely deserves the praise.”
The director behind “Paddington,” Paul King, has made it a point to clarify that while there are songs in the film, he doesn’t categorize it as a traditional musical.
Explaining his approach, King noted, “In the book, the Oompa Loompas sing extensively, and Dahl’s storytelling often includes poetic elements. However, I wanted to avoid turning the film into a full-fledged musical where characters sing their dialogue without a clear purpose. It felt more like a cinematic experience with occasional musical interludes rather than a typical musical.”
This isn’t the first time King has showered praise on his leading star. In a previous interview with Rolling Stone, he shared that Timothée Chalamet didn’t require an audition because, to him, Chalamet was the only actor for the role.
“Considering Timothée Chalamet’s unique life, which includes high school musical performances with hundreds of thousands of YouTube views, I knew from being a fan of his that he possessed excellent singing and dancing skills. However, I was pleasantly surprised by just how exceptional he was.”
“Wonka” also boasts a star-studded cast, featuring Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa, Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Colin O’Brien, Matt Lucas, Simon Farnaby, Natasha Rothwell, Rufus Jones, and more.
