Timothée Chalamet owes his Wonka gig to his "digital footprint."
To step into the shoes of the chocolatier in the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory prequel, the 27-year-old had to nail his singing skills. Fortunately, snippets from his days at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York were circulating online. Director Paul King stumbled upon these treasures, giving him the confidence in Timothée's musical flair even before the casting call.
Casting Timothée based on "all the great movies he's been in," Paul shared with The Times newspaper's Saturday Review, "In this ridiculous century, some of Timmy's high school performances are all over the internet, racking up hundreds of thousands of views."
Timothée laughed about his "digital footprint," grateful for his childhood in New York's artsy district, which, in his words, spared him from "a traditional upbringing."
However, the actor admitted that his teenage stints didn't fully prep him for the grandeur of the performances in the film. "It was a completely new challenge. I dabbled in singing in high school, but that didn't quite cut it."
Though well-versed in Gene Wilder's iconic portrayal of Wonka in the 1971 classic, Timothée didn't find it burdensome to have that performance in mind while filming. "The Gene Wilder film was my childhood favorite, just like for many American kids. It embodies magic, mystery, lightness, and darkness all at once."
Asked if it was tough to shake off the earlier portrayal, he responded, "Not really because this movie is more of a companion to that film."
Identifying common ground with his confectioner alter ego, Timothée's co-star Keegan-Michael Key highlighted, "Timmy exudes the same cleverness as Gene Wilder's Wonka while maintaining an optimistic, childlike essence. He strikes that balance beautifully."
Timothée modestly added, "Maybe I carry that quality in life. Or maybe I'm off the mark. Time will unveil the truth."