Wonka release date When is the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory prequel coming out?

Hollywood isn’t shy from revisiting a story, so audiences weren’t entirely surprised to find out that a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory prequel was in the works. Wonka is the origin story of the eccentric chocolatier, seeking to explain the existence of Oompa Loompas and, we hope, snozzeberries to hungry audiences around the world.

Wonka’s release date is 8 December in the UK. Fans in the US will have to wait a week before they can see the film, as its release date in the US is 15 December. Warner Bros. Studios is hoping that it will be the big box office winner this holiday season, when audiences will be eager for something fun and whimsical to cap off another year at the cinema.

There is a lot of pressure on Timothée Chalamet, who is stepping into the iconic role of Willy Wonka while we all wait for Dune: Part 2. Ever since Gene Wilder first stumbled out of his factory in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the character has held a special place in cinema history. Wilder’s version was followed up by Johnny Depp’s portrayal in 2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which has only increased the pressure on Chalamet to deliver in the role.

Also in the Wonka cast are Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, and – improbably as it sounds – Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa.

Curious what else is hitting the big screen between now and Christmas? We have a handy guide to every film coming to theaters and streaming services in the next several months.