The cast of Director Paul King’s musical prequel Wonka continues to grow as cameras start rolling. The latest announced additions to the line-up include Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Coleman and Sally Hawkins. Timothee Chalamet is firmly in place in the lead role playing Roald Dahl’s ironically weird and wonderful chocolate factory owner in his younger days.

Paddington director King has already packed his supporting cast with familiar faces such as Tom Davis, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Simon Farnaby, Matt Lucas, Paterson Joseph, Rich Fulcher, Jim Carter and Keegan-Michael Key.

The vast line up of actors will be accompanied by a soundtrack provided by The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon, giving at least some indication of the musical style the prequel may be adopting.

The official announcement of the unexpected prequel project had this to say about its intentions to explore the backstory of one of Roald Dahl’s most iconic character, going even further beyond the reimagined backstory provided by Tim Burton’s most recent big screen incarnation of the character with Johnny Depp.

The announcement claims the new film will explore

“Vivid, mythical beginnings of the imaginative young inventor before he becomes the renowned scrumdiddlyumptious Mozart of chocolate”

The film will be arriving in cinemas 17 March 2023 so this is one sweet treat that may take some time to prepare.