What you need to know:
With the arrival of the ‘Wonka’ trailer, criticism began towards Hugh Grant, who plays an Oompa Loompa in the film. Above all, he began to be showered with dwarfism by actors with dwarfism, who consider that he took away their opportunity to appear in one of the most anticipated films of the year.
Throughout this 2023, we have seen highly anticipated films that made many of us launch ourselves into movie theaters. However, there are still tapes that we want to reach the screen. Of course it’s on that list. wonkawhich has not been spared from controversy, since Hugh Grant is being rained down for his role in this project.
Here we have been telling you for a long time that this film was coming based on the universe of Roald Dahl and directed by Paul King (who has been behind the tapes of paddington). As if this weren’t enough, This production will serve as a prequel to the 1971 film adaptation, where we will see Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka himself. before becoming the most famous and eccentric chocolatier in the world.
Criticism of Hugh Grant for playing an Oompa Loompa in ‘Wonka’
With the arrival of the first trailer of wonkaThere were a lot of comments about it.. The vast majority liked what they saw in the trailer for this movie, especially Chalamet’s performance and the world in which the story takes place. Although there were also those who released their criticisms, among them those who They complained that Hugh Grant plays an Oompa Loompa in this movie..
And you may be wondering why so much fuss with this. Well, it turns out that both in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory from 1971, starring Gene Wilder, as in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory 2005 with Johnny Depp, the Oompa Loompa were played by actors with dwarfism.
That’s where the anger over Hugh Grant’s involvement comes from. in this new movie about Willy Wonka, well many consider that the role should be again for an actor with the same characteristics.
Wee Man from ‘Jackass’ and more actors with dwarfism have weighed in on Hugh Grant in ‘Wonka’
Of course Several well-known people with dwarfism in the entertainment world have spoken about this situation in wonka. The first of them was george coppenactor and comedian recognized for his participation in The School For Good And Evil of Netflix, who said in an interview for the BBC that was against the casting of Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa.
“A lot of actors (with dwarfism) feel like we’re being kicked out of the industry we love. Many people, including myself, argue that dwarfs should be offered everyday roles in series and soap operas, but they don’t offer us those roles. One door is closing, but they have forgotten to open the next one.
Said George Coppen on casting Hugh Grant as Oompa Loompa in ‘Wonka’
Besides, George Coppen made it clear that he did not like the characterization of Oompa Loompa by Hugh GrantWell, in his own words, “His head has been enlarged to make it look bigger. What the hell have they done to him?” However, he is not the only figure with dwarfism who has opined on this controversy with wonkawell Jason Acuña himself –aka Wee Man from jackass– He made a comment about it.
In an interview for TMZ –where they also asked him about the casting for the live action of Snow White–, Wee Man sarcastically said the following: “Hugh Grant is now playing an Oompa Loompa? So I guess, Hugh Grant, now you’re identifying as a little person? In the second 0:57 you can hear what the star of jackass.
What do you think about this whole matter? Are you for or against the people who have criticized the casting of Hugh Grant as the Oompa Loompa in wonka? The only thing we know for sure is that The film will hit theaters in Mexico on December 14. and that looks like it will be one of the highest grossing premieres of 2023.
