Warner Bros. is looking for a new Willy Wonka.
Collider reports the studio has Ryan Gosling, Donald Glover, and Ezra Miller on their shortlist of actors to portray the chocolate factory owner.
As Collider notes, this news comes four months after Warner Bros hired Paddington director Paul King to film the upcoming Willy Wonka movie. However, this time around it won't be another remake of Roald Dahl's 1964 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which was adapted into the iconic 1971 film, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, with Gene Wilder as the eccentric candy maker then again in a later 2005 version with Johnny Depp, which carried the same name as the novel. Instead, it'll reportedly be a prequel following Wonka's origins before he becomes the famed innovator.
Harry Potter producer, David Heyman, will be producing this film as well, while Simon Rich, who's mostly known for his work on Man Seeking Woman, is penning the script.
As for the possible leads, this won't be the first time either of them dabbled in the sci-fi/fantasy genre. Gosling, who's mostly known for his work in rom-coms, tapped into steampunk vibes for Blade Runner 2049, and showed his knack for musicals in La La Land.
Between his Emmy Award–winning series Atlanta, voice work as Simba in the live-action remake of The Lion King, and culture-moving tracks like "This is America," Glover also recently starred as Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Ezra Miller is in two franchises already as Credence Barebone in Fantastic Beasts and The Flash in the DC Universe as well.
Either of the choices seem like strong leads. Only time will tell who Warner Bros. will go with.
