Wonka is a musical fantasy film that tells the origin story of Willy Wonka, a young and eccentric candy-making genius determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time. It is a precursor to the events of Roald Dahl’s 1964 children's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the film stars Timothée Chalamet in the title role, with an ensemble cast featuring Hugh Grant, Keegan Michael-Key, Matt Lucas, Calah Lane, Paterson Joseph, Matthew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, and Olivia Colman.
The film was released in the United Kingdom on 8 December 2023, and a few days later on December 15 in the United States. It is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Wonka was publicized with an all-new float in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as a partnership between Warner Bros. Pictures and Macy’s. The float, titled “The Deliciously Delectable World of Wonka,” featured the grand opening of Willy Wonka’s first chocolate shop.
Spectators were welcomed to the Wonka storefront on a red carpet with windows displaying illuminated candy jars, totaling more than 592,000 individual pieces.[1] Lining the store’s counters were delicately detailed and delectable confections including chocolate trees, mushrooms, licorice trees, vats of jelly beans, cotton candy grass, lollipops, sugar cubes, and cakes, leading to a majestic cherry tree centerpiece surrounded by a dramatic canal, white chocolate rabbits and cotton candy clouds. Willy Wonka's signature top hat, coat, and cane were hung by the doorway, and a bicycle-powered cart rode alongside the float and passed out scrumdiddlyumptious treats to Parade spectators.[2]
For its NBC appearance, actors wearing attire inspired by the film performed a number choreographed by Dennis Jones and Rachel Leigh Dolan, set to the iconic "Pure Imagination." It was retired after one appearance.
References[]
- ↑ "'The Deliciously Delectable World of Wonka' Float Set to Delight Audiences at the 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade." BusinessWire.com. October 18, 2023.
- ↑ Rivera, Joshua. "Breaking: Do NOT try to eat the Wonka float at the 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade." Polygon. October 18, 2023.