More promotional images from the forthcoming Wonka movie - which includes scenes filmed on location in St Albans - have been released by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Due in cinemas this Christmas, musical fantasy Wonka stars Timothée Chalamet in the title role.
Among the new publicity pictures from the film is one of Hugh Grant as an orange faced, green-haired Oompa Loompa in a jar talking to Willy Wonka.
Another movie still shows the famous chocolatier, wearing top hat and holding a cane, in a song and dance routine, surrounded by people twirling umbrellas with the word 'Wonka' on them.
Other images show Timothée Chalamet as Wonka and co-star Calah Lane on the roof of a building, and Wonka showing off his fabulous chocolates to shoppers.
From Paddington director Paul King, Wonka is a vivid and inventive big screen spectacle.
Simon Farnaby and Paul King wrote the screenplay and the movie is a prequel to Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and will introduce cinema audiences to a young Willy Wonka.
As the film poster comes tagline says "Discover how Willy became... Wonka".
Featuring an intoxicating mix of magic and music, mayhem and emotion, production of Wonka was based in Hertfordshire at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Watford.
The first official trailer for Wonka released last month (July) included scenes shot in St Albans' Verulamium Park in March 2022.
You can watch the official Wonka trailer below.
Based on the extraordinary character at the centre of Roald Dahl’s iconic children’s book, Wonka tells the wondrous tale of how the world’s greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker became the beloved Willy Wonka we know today.
Neil Hannon of the band The Divine Comedy has written original songs for the film.
From David Heyman, the producer of Harry Potter, Wonka stars Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka, a role previously played on screen by Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp.
Chalamet also plays Paul Atreides in the forthcoming Dune sequel, Dune: Part Two, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.
The Oscar-nominated actor was spotted on set in St Albans last year for filming of the eagerly-awaited Wonka movie.
Warner Bros took over Verulamium Park and Abbey Mill Lane near St Albans Cathedral in late February/early March 2022 for location filming of Wonka.
Film crews built sets near Ye Olde Fighting Cocks pub for filming and covered the area around the lake in fake snow for a night shoot.
READ MORE
- Look back as Hollywood descended on St Albans to film new Wonka movie
- Filming of Barbie movie at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden
- 15 fun film facts about the new Barbie movie
- Wonka official trailer includes scenes filmed in St Albans
- Paddington 2 fairground scenes filmed in grounds of Knebworth House
Scenes filmed in St Albans features in the first Wonka trailer, with the lake area transformed into a magical snow-covered fairground setting.
Eagle-eye viewers will spot Chalamet as Willy Wonka and co-star Calah Lane as Noodle walking around the lake in the trailer, although the area is almost unrecognisable thanks to CGI and post-production work.
According to Warner Bros, Willy Wonka is "chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time - proving that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible".
As well as Hollywood A-lister Timothée Chalamet, Wonka features the cream of British acting talent.
Among those starring in Wonka are Little Britain's Matt Lucas, The Shape of Water Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins, Hugh Grant, Johnny English and Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson, Downton Abbey's Jim Carter, and Oscar winner Olivia Colman, who filmed The Favourite at Hatfield House.
The film also stars Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Mathew Baynton, Natasha Rothwell, Rich Fulcher, Rakhee Thakrar, Tom Davis and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.
As well as Timothée Chalamet, Jim Carter – best known for playing butler Mr Carson in Downton Abbey – was another actor spotted filming scenes of Wonka in St Albans last year.
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden has confirmed the Hertfordshire film and TV studio was the home of Wonka filming.
Posting a video of the trailer on Instagram, the studio wrote: "The world of #Wonka was #MadeAtWBSL 🍫✨"
The world of #Wonka was #MadeAtWBSL 🍫✨ https://t.co/oyGnJjZmjv
— Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (@WBSLeavesden) July 11, 2023
As well as St Albans, location filming of Wonka also took place on the historic Cobb in Lyme Regis, Dorset, and Oxford.
Wonka is set to be released in cinemas across the UK on December 15 by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here