Taika Waititi is partnering with Netflix on two animated shows, based on Roald Dahl’s beloved novel Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
The Oscar-winning Jojo Rabbit filmmaker will write, direct, and executive produce both projects – one based on the original book, about a young boy whose dreams come true inside Willy Wonka’s magical chocolate factory, and the other chronicling the lives of the Oompa-Loompa workers.
In a press release announcing the animated projects, a Netflix spokesman writes: “The shows will retain the quintessential spirit and tone of the original story while building out the world and characters far beyond the pages of the Dahl book for the very first time.”
Netflix made a deal with Dahl’s estate to adapt his works in 2018. The streaming giant is seeking other high profile writers and filmmakers to adapt other works, including Matilda, The BFG and The Twits.
Netflix’s vice president of original animation, Melissa Cobb, said: “Finding just the right creative partner to bring Willy Wonka, Charlie and the Oompa-Loompas to life in animation was a daunting task… until Taika walked into the room. Then, it was really obvious. If Dahl had created a character of a filmmaker to adapt his work, I’m pretty sure he would have created Taika.”
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been adapted for the big screen on two occasions – 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder, and director Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which featured Johnny Depp as the candyman.
