Summary
Timothée Chalamet could be gearing up to return as Willy Wonka soon, as I thinkWonka 2’s release date was just revealed. The actor followed in Gene Wilder’s shoes to portray the chocolate-loving entrepreneur in the 2023 prequel movie. Expectations for a newWonkamovie were moderately high, and the film still managed to surpass them. The musical movie received positive reviews from critics and audiences, with general viewers flocking to theaters to see it. The result ofWonka’s box officeearning $632 million worldwide only increased my belief that Warner Bros. would greenlight a sequel at some point.
Wonka’s endingmost definitely left the door open for Timothée Chalamet to return as Willy Wonka in a sequel. Now that his chocolate factory has been built,Wonka 2could help bridge the gap between Chalamet and Wilder’s versionsof the character. Still, there has been no official announcement that a sequel is coming, although many involved have discussed the possibility. Now that six months have passed, I’m convinced that Warner Bros. secretly just revealed whenWonka 2is going to be released in theaters.
Wonka’s Perfect Movie Sequel Would Have A Timothée Chalamet Problem
Wonka tells the story of a young Willy Wonka, years before he opened his famous Chocolate Factory, but a sequel with Chalamet would be difficult.
Wonka 2 Is Likely To Be Released In December 2027
Warner Bros. Dated An ‘Untitled Family Sequel’
Warner Bros. shuffled its release slate recently and added several untitled movies to future dates in 2027. One of these placeholders is foran “Untitled Family Sequel” that will be released on July 01, 2025. Although the studio made this announcement without wanting to confirm what movie they have planned for this slot,Wonka 2is the title that makes the most sense to me. The timing of the release date announcement and basic details about the planned release all point to this being when Timothée Chalamet will be back as Willy Wonka.
An Untitled Star Wars movie is scheduled for release on July 16, 2025 too, which could present a challenge for Wonka 2
The reasoning for confidence inWonka 2releasing in December 2027 is due to the first film’s success and WB’s desire to do everything in its power to replicate that. This mid-December release window is the same thatWonkahad in 2023. That slot allowedWonkato be the go-to movie for families over the Christmas holiday season.It is smarter for the sequel to also come out at the same time of yearinstead of attempting to make it a big summer event.
There are also not too many recent Warner Bros. movies that could have sequels that would be described as “Untitled Family Sequel” this early on.This certainly isn’t a date meant forBarbie 2, as the studio would surely keep that potential franchise in the summer.Wonkawas very much a movie targeted at families, asPaddington’s Paul King infused it with plenty of heartwarming, funny, and musical moments. This date has to be forWonka 2then.
Wonka 2 Releasing In December 2027 Is Very Doable
There Would Be Four Years Between The Movies
The idea thatWonka 2could be released in December 2027 is also not that far-fetched based on timing. This would give everyone involved with the original movie a four-year window to turn around and deliver the sequel. Six months of that window is already gone at this point, but a small break after the promotional tour to bask in a film’s success is normal. Now would be the right time for Warner Bros. to really begin getting everything aligned soWonka 2can happen.
My expected release date forWonka 2means that the project hasroughly two years left to do the entire development and pre-production process. This would allow filming to begin sometime in 2026 and have plenty of time to finish. Hitting the July 17, 2025 release date could be done without rushing through any stage of development or production. It even provides enough of a gap for Timothée Chalamet to tackle other projects in the meantime, such asDune 3- which is also a Warner Bros. title.
Why Wonka 2 Hasn’t Been Officially Confirmed Yet
A Sequel Seems Like A Guarantee
Warner Bros. could not confirm at this point thatWonka 2is the intended December 2027 release because the movie has yet to be officially announced. It is not known why the studio is holding off onannouncingWonka 2, especially since it is widely assumed to be happening. Paul King and Timothée Chalamet have both expressed their willingness to return for another. OnceWonkabecame a certifiable box office hit, it was thought that a sequel announcement would be right around the corner.
Wonka 2’s confirmation could be waiting for WB to secure [Timothée Chalamet’s] return
The most likely reason whyWonka 2has not been announced yet is that there are still deals to agree to.Neither Paul King nor Timothée Chalamet are confirmed to have contracts for a sequel, and both can command bigger paydays. Chalamet, in particular, should be in line for a major raise afterWonkaandDune: Part Twoboth hit.Wonka 2’s confirmation could be waiting for WB to secure his return. Even then, the formality of both sides agreeing to new terms does not make me any less confident thatWonka 2is coming out in December 2027.
