The official trailer of the forthcoming Wonka movie - which includes scenes filmed on location in St Albans - has been released by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Coming to cinemas across the UK on December 8, Wonka is a prequel to Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and will introduce audiences to a young Willy Wonka.
Based on the extraordinary character at the centre of Roald Dahl’s most iconic children’s book, Wonka tells the wondrous tale of how the world’s greatest inventor, magician and chocolate-maker became the beloved Willy Wonka we know today.
You can watch the Wonka trailer below.
From David Heyman, the producer of Harry Potter, and directed by Paul King, who brought the Paddington films to the big screen, Wonka stars Timothée Chalamet in the title role.
Chalamet, who also plays Paul Atreides in the forthcoming Dune sequel, Dune: Part Two, was spotted on set in St Albans last year for filming of the eagerly-awaited Wonka movie.
Warner Bros took over Verulamium Park and Abbey Mill Lane in St Albans in late February/early March 2022 for location filming of Wonka.
Film crews built sets covered in fake snow around the lake and near Ye Olde Fighting Cocks pub for the shoot.
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Footage filmed in St Albans features in the Wonka trailer, with the lake area transformed into a magical snow-covered fairground setting.
Eagle-eye viewers will spot Chalamet as Willy Wonka and co-star Calah Lane walking around the lake in the trailer, although the area is almost unrecognisable thanks to the wonders of CGI and post-production work.
According to Warner Bros, Willy Wonka is "chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time - proving that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible".
Featuring an intoxicating mix of magic and music, mayhem and emotion, Wonka also stars Matt Lucas, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, and Oscar winner Olivia Colman.
As well as Chalamet and Calah Lane, Jim Carter - best known as Mr Carson in Downton Abbey - was also spotted filming scenes of Wonka in St Albans.
Production of Wonka was based in Hertfordshire at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.
Posting a video of the trailer on Instagram, the film and television studio wrote: "The world of #Wonka was #MadeAtWBSL 🍫✨"
The world of #Wonka was #MadeAtWBSL 🍫✨ https://t.co/oyGnJjZmjv
— Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (@WBSLeavesden) July 11, 2023
Location filming also took place on the historic Cobb in Lyme Regis, Dorset, which also features briefly in the trailer.
Wonka will be released in cinemas across the UK on December 8 by Warner Bros. Pictures. Its release date has been brought forward from December 15.
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