2025 is shaping up to be a huge year for Timothée Chalamet, first with his Oscar nomination forA Complete Unknown, and later withhis starring role in Josh Safdie’sMarty Supreme.However, the actor’s most exciting upcoming project is the sequel to his 2022 family comedyWonka. The original film was a huge success that featured one of Chalamet’s most beloved roles to date, and the upcoming sequel is sure to scratch the same itch. In fact, many audiences have drawn comparisons betweenWonkaandPaddington, claiming that Chalamet’s film has taken the latter’s crown.
The comparison toPaddingtonis a particularly poignant one, as the recent release ofPaddington in Peruhas audiences mixed on what the future of this franchise may look like. WhilePaddington 4is officially on the way, some more cynical viewers are concerned that it will be unable to live up to the emotional heights of the first two movies. This is certainly a concern, but Timothée Chalamet and the team behindWonkaseem determined to step into any shadow left behind by thePaddingtonseries.
Paddington’s Director Paul King Brought His Magic To Wonka
The Filmmaker Adopted A Very Similar Style
The most obvious connection betweenWonkaandPaddingtonis their shared director, Paul King. The British filmmaker has been responsible for some ofthe most popular and subversive comedy shows of the past few decades, with projects likeThe Mighty BooshandCome Fly With Meunder his belt. However, thePaddingtonmovies were certainly his most acclaimed works beforeWonka, with their bright color palettes and eccentric ensemble coming together to make movies that are perfect for both children and adults alike. He brought this exact same sensibility toWonka.
Wonka 2 Gets Major Development & Script Update From Director Paul King
Wonka director Paul King opens up about the current status of a sequel, giving a positive update on the script’s progress and a story tease.
King’sWonkamanaged to transform an already popular children’s book into something endlessly fresh and creative, with the filmmaker’s signature charm and wit shining through both the script and the visuals.The movie has all the same nostalgia and sentimentalitythat madePaddingtonsuch an enjoyable watch, blending these elements of drama with an unrelenting sense of humor that shines throughout.Paul King is the secret ingredient of thePaddingtonfranchise, and his involvement is felt all overWonka.
Incidentally,Paul King didn’t return forPaddington in Perubecause he was too busy writing and filmingWonka. This is glaringly obvious from the final product of both movies, asWonkais inexplicably more similar to the firstPaddingtonmovies thanPaddington in Peruis. The filmmaker essentially brought everything that made his first movies so popular and applied them toWonkainstead, which went down brilliantly with audiences.
Wonka Is Already A Much Bigger Franchise Than Paddington
The Family Prequel Was A Huge Box Office Hit
Despite the immense success ofPaddingtonand its immediate sequel, the franchise has already been overtaken byWonka. Timothée Chalamet’s family comedy was a smash hit all across the world, bringing in $634.5 million globally (viaBox Office Mojo). Perhaps ironically,this is more than bothPaddingtonandPaddington 2’s worldwide intakecombined. This simply proves that King made the right decision, prioritizingWonkaoverPaddington in Peru(which in turn drew in $164.7 globally).
All of this immense success forWonkais a surefire sign that King’s movie could become the next Hollywood “big thing”.
All of this immense success forWonkais a surefire sign that King’s movie could become the next Hollywood “big thing”. Timothée Chalamet is more popular than ever following his neck-and-neck Best Actor race at the Oscars, and many audiences viewWonkaas his most versatile and charming role in a long time.Dune Messiahwill also start filming in 2025, which could end up being another huge project for Chalamet. These factors line up perfectly for the future ofWonkaas a long-running franchise, and perhaps Chalamet’s most profitable role of all.
Timothée Chalamet & Paul King Are Returning For A Wonka Sequel
Wonka 2 Could Make This Franchise Truly Special
Thankfully, the news thatPaul King and Timothée Chalamet will be returning forWonka 2is now official, and the possibilities for this new movie are endless. The first installment was an original story that aimed to delve into the early years of Roald Dahl’s protagonist, but it’s unclear whereWonka 2will draw its inspiration from. With Chalamet returning in the lead role, there can’t be too much of a time jump between stories, but there are multiple books in Dahl’s series that could be used as an interesting frame of reference.
Every Paddington In Peru Main Character, Ranked By How Likeable They Are
Between Paddington, the Brown family, and the newly introduced individuals, who are the most likable main characters in Paddington in Peru?
Many people have calledPaddington 2the best movie of all time(it even held a Rotten Tomatoes record for a while), so it’s clear thatPaul King knows what he’s doing with sequels. If he follows a similar format, audiences can expect more of the same withWonka2 -but this time, with new characters and even more cartoonish storylines. The first movie really focused on Wonka’s origins, so now there’s plenty of room for wacky subplots without the need for exposition that sometimes holds the original back.
Wonka Has A More Exciting Future Than Paddington At This Point
Paddington In Peru Wasn’t As Successful As Paddington 2
All of these details converge to makeWonkaone of the most exciting upcoming franchises of the next few years. Paul King has really settled into his particular style over the past few years, butWonkais just distinct enough fromPaddingtonto ensure that it doesn’t feel too familiar or repetitive. There’s so much that he could do with the sequel, and Chalamet’s obvious dedication to this role means thatwe’re going to see something truly special withWonka 2. Conversely, thePaddingtonfranchise doesn’t have the most secure future at the moment.
WhilePaddington in Peruwas an entertaining film in its own right, the general consensus is that it didn’t quite live up to the greatness of the first two movies. It strayed a little too far from expectations for most viewers, taking the characters away from the comfort of their London home and trying something very unexpected. Its ambition is to be admired, but the mixed reception (likely because of King’s absence) isn’t a good sign for any futurePaddingtonsequels. It’s far more likely that Paul King will shift his focus toWonka, hopefully making it his next franchise.
Paddington in Peru
Cast
Paddington in Peru follows the beloved bear as he embarks on an adventure to visit Aunt Lucy in her new home at the Home for Retired Bears. Accompanied by the Brown Family, they uncover a mystery that leads them through the Amazon rainforest and the mountainous regions of Peru.
