First look at Willy Wonka prequel starring Timothee Chalamet and Hugh Grant

The first Wonka prequel trailer has been released, showing Timothée Chalamet in the title role – and Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa.

The first trailer for the upcoming Charlie and the Chocolate Factory prequel Wonka has been released today, showing Timothée Chalamet in the title role – and Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa.

Set for release in Australian release on December 14, the film serves as a prequel to Roald Dahl’s beloved 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was adapted into a film in 1971 starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, and again in 2005 with Johnny Depp as Wonka.

Timothee Chalamet plays Wonka …

… while Hugh Grant is an Oompa Loompa.

This new take on the classic, helmed by Paddington director Paul King, will tell the story of Wonka’s early days as an eccentric, inventive chocolatier, before he starts his own chocolate factory.

Chalamet features heavily in the trailer, along with appearances from supporting actors including Keegan-Michael Key, Rowan Atkinson, Sally Hawkins and Olivia Colman.

Gene Wilder as Wonka in the 1971 film.

Johnny Depp in the 2005 remake.

But it’s towards the end of the trailer that viewers get the biggest shock: None other than Hugh Grant as a tiny green-haired, orange-skinned Oompa Loompa, trapped inside a glass bottle as he talks to Wonka.

“So you’re the funny little man who’s been following me,” Chalamet’s Wonka tells him.

“I’ll have you know I am a perfectly respectable size for an Oompa Loompa,” Grant says, before busting out a flute to perform an Oompa Loompa dance.

The original 1971 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film made just $US4 million from a $US 3 million budget in 1971, but went on to be considered a classic family film.

By contrast, the 2005 remake made almost half a billion at the global box office – so expectations are high for this prequel to repeat that success.

Originally published as First look at Willy Wonka prequel starring Timothee Chalamet and Hugh Grant