Wonka Getting Canceled For Not Accurately Casting Oompa-Loompas
It is hard to make a movie in 2023 without attracting some controversy. Even this past weekend’s hits, Barbie and Oppenheimer, have come under fire for one thing or another. The Hollywood Reporter zeroed in on another controversy, highlighting the frustration of actors with dwarfism over the casting of Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa in this year’s Wonka.
In an interview with BBC, Willow (2022) and The School for Good and Evil actor George Coppen had strong opinions about Grant’s casting in Wonka. “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,” he said. “One door is being closed, but they have forgotten to open the next one.”
“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…” George Coppen on Wonka
Based on characters created by children’s author Roal Dahl, Wonka stars Timothee Chalamet as the amazing chocolatier in his early days. The film’s trailer shows an intrepid young Wonka breaking into the tough chocolate business, fueled by passion and an assortment of zany products. The trailer also features a clip of Wonka’s first conversation with an Oompa Loompa.
The Oompa Loompas are a race of small people who assist Wonka with his chocolate operation. In both the 1971 and 2005 adaptations of Dahl’s book, the Oompa Loompas were portrayed by actors with dwarfism. For the new film, Hugh Grant takes on the role.
Wonka director Paul King, best known for helming the hugely popular and beloved Paddington films, previously justified his choice to cast Grant in the role. “I was really just thinking about that character; somebody who could be a real shit, and then — ah! Hugh!” explained King. “Because he’s the funniest, most sarcastic shit I’ve ever met.”
Indeed, Hugh Grant has undergone quite a digital transformation in order to reach Oompa Loompa size, including serious alterations to his proportions – something Coppen was not happy to see. “They’ve enlarged his head so his head looks bigger,” Coppen said. “[I thought,] ‘what the hell have you done to him?’”
Coppen’s comments come as part of a larger conversation about representation in Hollywood. As the industry seeks greater diversity and inclusion on screen, many are asking whether or not actors should play characters with gender identities, sexual orientations, or physical capabilities different from their own.
Some argue that allowing actors like Hugh Grant to play the Oompa Loompa in Wonka further boxes an underrepresented demographic out of the film industry. Critics of that argument insist that part of the job of acting is putting yourself in the shoes of someone different from yourself, regardless of what those differences are.
It is a complex issue, and one that the industry at large will likely wrestle with for many years to come. Grant’s casting in Wonka isn’t exactly causing rioting in the streets right now, but it will be interesting to see how the choice is perceived a decade from now as industry norms continue to evolve at a rapid rate.
This will likely not be the end of the discussion about Hugh Grant in Wonka. The reveal came only recently in the film’s teaser trailer, but the tentpole is not set to release until December 15. As marketing for the movie ramps up through the fall, the discussion around the new Oompa Loompa may have a major cultural moment – or not.
Wonka is set to release in theaters on December 15, 2023.
In any case, Wonka looks to be exactly what the studio set out to create. This charming, family-friendly prequel stars Timothee Chalamet giving an uncharacteristically chipper performance. The young star is not quite Gene Wilder or Johnny Depp, but seems to be imbuing the character with an energy all his own.
Joining Chalamet and Grant in Wonka are Secret Invasion actor Olivia Colman and The Shape of Water star Sally Hawkins, along with Rowan Atkinson, Keegan- Michael Key, Matt Lucas, and more.
Willy Wonka was created by Roald Dahl, who has become a controversial figure in his own right. His work is brimming with charm and wit, and books like Matilda, The BFG, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and James and the Giant Peach have been adapted by some of the industry’s greatest filmmakers.
Dahl’s legacy is marbled with antisemitism and reported racism and misogyny. His family and foundation work to preserve his wonderful stories while actively denouncing and combating the darker streaks of the author’s life. Wonka will continue a legacy balancing charm and controversy when it releases in theaters this December.
