Timothee Chalamet’s upcoming movie, Wonka, is highly anticipated, being based on the iconic 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, as well as the 1971 and 2005 movies of similar names. While all these works focus on the chocolate factory run by the character of Willy Wonka, Chalamet’s film takes a different take, being more of a prequel movie of Wonka creating and establishing the factory.
The film recently dropped its first trailer and this sparked up some controversy, more specifically towards the legendary actor Hugh Grant and the character he is playing.
Hugh Grant Plays An Oompa Loompa In Wonka
In the trailer of Wonka, we see Hugh Grant playing an Oompa Loompa, who is an integral part of Wonka’s chocolate factory. The movie used visual effects to make Grant look and fit the part, that is looking like a short, dwarf-like man with orange skin and green hair. In the trailer, Timothee Chalamet’s character is seen looking at Hugh Grant’s character, who is trapped in a glass jar, and asks him if he is the little man who has been following him.
To this, Grant says that he a perfectly respectful size for an Oompa-Loompa. While this casting choice left many surprised in a positive way, calling it something they didn’t know they needed, some were quite upset about Grant being chosen for this role, being very vocal as to why they thought so.
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Hugh Grant Gets Backlash For Playing An Oompa Loompa in Wonka
George Coppen is a well-established actor with dwarfism and is best known for his work in The School for Good and Evil, has recently become very vocal about his dislike of the casting choice of Hugh Grant playing a dwarf character. He mentioned that it is casting like this which is making actual actors with dwarfism run out of jobs and not be able to work in an industry that they love dearly.
“A lot of actors [with dwarfism] feel like we are being pushed out of the industry we love. A lot of people, myself included, argue that dwarfs should be offered everyday roles in dramas and soaps, but we aren’t getting offered those roles. One door is being closed but they have forgotten to open the next one.” he went on, “They’ve enlarged his head so his head looks bigger. [I thought] what the hell have you done to him?”
He then went on to add that the special effects have made Grant’s head look so much bigger in comparison to his body He then added that it would have made a lot more sense to simply hire actors who actually fit the requirement for the role, as was done in the past with previous movies based on Roald Dahl’s work.
Source: Variety
