A producer for the forthcoming Willy Wonka movie has confirmed that the film will be a prequel.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Warner Bros along with Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts producer David Heyman had made a deal with author Roald Dahl's estate for rights to further explore the life of the ubiquitous (though entirely fictional) chocolate factory owner in a new movie.

It was initially thought the film would be something of a reboot, although it was later suggested the movie would be a prequel exploring Wonka's early life, with Ezra Miller, Donald Glover and Ryan Gosling all rumoured to be in contention for the lead role – and now Heyman himself has confirmed it.

VCG / Contributor Getty Images

[David Heyman]

Speaking to Collider, he said: "We are still trying to figure out how to tell that story, what the story is. It's a prequel, it's not a sequel.

"What makes Willy – when we find him at the chocolate factory doing the golden ticket, where is he before that? What leads him to that place where he's locked himself away? It's how does he get there? So we're playing around with that."

Warner Bros.

The first on screen adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – retitled Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory – was released in 1971, with the late Gene Wilder totally owning the role.

Johnny Depp's portrayal of the mysterious chocolate shop owner in 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was more divisive. However, it did go some way to establishing a backstory for Wonka, as he was revealed to be estranged from his dentist father (played by Sir Christopher Lee).

But, just like Augustus and Veruca, we totally want more.

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