The third Willy Wonka movie is an origin story about the titular character, which the 2005 movie gave glimpses of. In the 2023 Wonka movie, we finally get to meet another important character in Willy's life. Who plays the mother of Wonka in the movie? Will his father make an appearance again?
Here's what we know about Willy's relationship with his parents in Wonka.
Who Plays Wonka's Mother in Wonka Movie?
In the movie, the role of Wonka's mother is played out by Sally Hawkins.
Hawkins is a seasoned actress who is most famous for her roles in the Paddington movies, The Shape of Water, Happy-G0-Lucky, and Made in Dagenham.
Hawkins was also in Godzilla, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, The Lost King, The Phantom of the Opera, Maudie, A Boy Called Christmas, and many more.
She earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal in films like Happy-Go-Lucky, Blue Jasmine, and The Shape of Water.
Is Willy Close to His Mother in Wonka?
The 2005 reimagining of Roald Dahl's classic movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory did not reveal Willy's mother. There was even no mention of her in the film, which makes you think she is either already separated from her husband or is no longer alive.
And like the 2005 film, Wonka's mother only appears in visions and flashbacks. This could explain why his mother was no longer in the picture in the previous movie.
But judging from the flashback scenes Willy had of his mother, you can already tell that she played a significant role in the ambitious boy's life.
Is Willy's Dad Appearing in Wonka?
In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, we get to see glimpses of Wonka's upbringing and family life. Although Wonka's mother was never in this movie, we got to see Willy's father and what his relationship with him is like.
This begs the question of whether Willy's dad, Dr. Wilbur Wonka will make an appearance in the 2023 film. But no, there is reason to believe that the events in Wonka take place after Willy runs away from home. This could explain why his dad is not included in the movie.
To recall, Dr. Wilbur Wonka is a dentist who hates candy. He prohibits Willy from having chocolate or any form of candy. So when Willy finally gets a taste of the sweet treat, he falls in love with it.
This leads him to run away to pursue his dream of being a candy maker. His father, however, warns him that he "won't be here" if he comes back. True enough, Willy discovers that his father is no longer at his old house.
In the 2005 movie, however, there is a bittersweet moment between the father and son towards the end of the film. This gives us comfort that Willy was able to patch things up with his dad in the end.
Dr. Wilbur Wonka was played by the late Christopher Lee.
Wonka airs in theaters on Friday, December 15, 2023.
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