Why Wonka’s Oompa Loompas Has the Original Movie Design (And Tim Burton’s Not)

Wonka director Paul King explains why his film has a more classic design for Hugh Grant’s Oompa Loompas than Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Based on the book by Roald Dahl, 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory stars Gene Wilder as the eccentric chocolatier. Following Burton’s adaptation with Johnny Depp in 2005, the actor will star in Timothée Chalamet King’s film, which will tell the story of how he became the famous chocolatier.

Ahead of Wonka’s expected release later this year, King spoke to Empire about his approach to Grant’s Oompa Loompa’s design. The director explains that the departure from Burton’s version is only due to his love for the original film. Here are King’s full remarks:

“In my mind it felt like this is how the Oompa Loompas should have been. I guess because the ’71 movie is so loved by me and other people, I didn’t really want to re-invent the wheel on that one. I wanted to do something that was true to that symbolism. I love ‘Pure Imagination’, I love the Oompa Loompa songs, I love the Oompa Loompa look. And that iconic Oompa Loompa look just got me right.

I could never do what Tim Burton does, because he’s a genius, but I could never do what he did and do it the way he did it. And I’m not even sure I’d want to do that, because I loved[the original]so much.”

As a director, Burton has always had a very specific visual approach to his films. While Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was, in some ways, closer to Dahl’s original book than the 1971 film, it also featured the director’s distinctive style and Depp’s unique performance. Depp’s chocolate maker has less charm and extravagance than Wilder’s, with the character appearing a bit more grotesque in the end.

However, the first trailer for Wonka revealed that Chalamet’s performance in the upcoming film would be closer to the wilder version of the character. From Chalamet’s clothing to his singing demeanor to the general sense of youthful charm he conveys, the images shown so far are more suggestive of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The city shown in the trailer also appears to be more similar to the city in the original film.

Burton’s adaptation certainly has its merits, but King’s upcoming adaptation seems to try to capture more of the spirit of nostalgia among those who are fans of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and especially Wilder’s performance. How Chalamet’s Wonka and his portrayal of the chocolate maker will be accepted by audiences remains to be seen, but the latest trailer is certainly a promising sign.

Source: Empire