Timothée Chalamet: ‘If You Would’ve Told Me When I Was 12’ That I’d Be Starring in ‘Wonka,’ I Would’ve Said ‘You’re Lying’

For Timothée Chalamet, starring in “Wonka” as the titular eccentric chocolatier is still the stuff of pure imagination.

At the film’s Tokyo premiere on Monday night, Chalamet donned a purple Prada jumpsuit and joined co-star Hugh Grant — who plays an Oompa-Loompa named Lofty — on stage to say a few words about what the role means to him.

“Paul King wrote a beautiful script here, about a young Willy Wonka who follows his dreams,” Chalamet said. “If you would’ve told me when I was 12 years old, when I was 10 years old watching the Johnny Depp version of Willy Wonka that I’d get to be here in Tokyo promoting this movie as Willy Wonka, standing next to Hugh Grant, I would’ve told you you were lying. So, I guess like the movie, follow your dreams.”

Chalamet is the third actor to take on the beloved Roald Dahl character from his 1964 children’s novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” In 1971, Gene Wilder embodied Wonka in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” followed by Depp’s darker interpretation of the role in 2005’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

The upcoming “Wonka,” set to release on Dec. 15 in the U.S. via Warner Bros., is a musical that tells the origin story of the candyman. Beyond Chalamet and Grant, the film stars Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Tom Davis and Olivia Colman. King also directs “Wonka,” and co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby. The Divine Comedy lead singer Neil Hannon penned the movie’s original songs.