7 Actors Who Could Play Willy Wonka If Ryan Gosling Doesn’t Want To
Because it’s a year starting with a 2, people are talking about another Willy Wonka/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory adaptation. About a year ago, Ryan Gosling was linked to the role, and Paddington 2 director Paul King was in discussions to direct just a few weeks ago, so what actors should be lining up to play one of children’s literature’s greatest characters should Gosling not work out?
EDWARD NORTON
Everyone’s Favourite Leading Man Who Hasn’t Starred In A Movie For 10 Years, Ed Norton is the ideal Wonka: just look at his comparative performances in Fight Club and Moonrise Kingdom to see a man who can balance angry/intimidating and sweet/charming like nobody’s business.
JEFF GOLDBLUM
Goldblum has become a bit of a caricature in the past few years, but he’s still an electrifying screen presence who’d deliver the grooviest Wonka yet.
JASON SCHWARTZMAN
The soft-spoken but vaguely sleazy Schwartzman has a serious Gene Wilder vibe that makes him an instant contender for the role, but — with a career being assholes and creeps — can he be sufficiently likeable for the warmer moments of Chocolate Factory?
JIM RASH
Rash can do camp brilliantly, but can also be an incredibly comforting dramatic presence; he exudes goodness but has a sinister edge to his screen persona. Perfect Wonka.
OSCAR ISAAC
This man can do whatever he wants. I can see him as Wonka.
ADAM DRIVER
You can’t have Oscar Isaac without Adam Driver. Why not?
BILLY CRUDUP
Ooh yes. #Crudup4Wonka
But, wait, WHERE’S MICHAEL STUHLBARG?
Well, my friends, I have a different role in mind for The Greatest Actor In The World…
STUHLBARG as MR. SLUGWORTH
He was born to play Chocolate Factory’s villain Mr. Slugworth, who bribes the 5 children to steal Wonka’s secrets in an act of would-be corporate espionage.
BTW, I was inspired to pen this article after watching the 2017 direct-to-DVD release Tom & Jerry: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, a 75-minute animated remake of the 1971 classic with Tom and Jerry arbitrarily inserted into every scene. It’s bonkers. I recommend checking it out on Vimeo if you’re at all curious.
