Netflix has officially announced that Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory, its new animated film set in Roald Dahl’s beloved world, will open in theatres globally on November 5, 2027, before arriving on Netflix on December 22, 2027. The announcement, made on August 12, also revealed several major additions to the film’s already impressive voice cast. Sony Pictures Entertainment will handle international theatrical distribution.
This is not a remake of Dahl’s original story. Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory takes place years after Willy Wonka’s famous Golden Ticket contest and moves the story into an entirely new chapter. Wonka, voiced by Taika Waititi, has spent the years following the contest in prison after being convicted of turning a child into a blueberry. Having served his sentence, he returns to his factory determined to bring sweetness back to a world that has become increasingly bitter.
Standing in Wonka’s way is Charlie Paley, voiced by Kit Connor, along with a new generation of so-called rotten kids. Facing eviction from their homes, the group comes up with a plan to break into Wonka’s factory, steal a priceless Wonka Bar and save the place where they live. But their attempt quickly takes them into the extraordinary world inside Wonka’s factory, where they discover that the fantastical surroundings are far more dangerous and unpredictable than they had expected.
The film’s expanded voice cast is one of its major attractions. Nicola Coughlan, best known for Bridgerton and The Magic Faraway Tree, joins the project alongside Charithra Chandran, who also appeared in Bridgerton and ONE PIECE. Samson Kayo, whose credits include F1: The Movie and the series Bloods, is also part of the ensemble. Christopher Chung, known for Slow Horses, and Helena Bonham Carter, whose credits include One Life and Nolly, round out the newly announced additions. Two-time Oscar winner Kate Winslet has also joined the cast.
They join the previously announced Kit Connor as Charlie Paley and Taika Waititi as Willy Wonka, whose casting established the film’s new central pairing.
Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory is directed by Jared Stern and Elaine Bogan. Stern co-directed The LEGO Batman Movie and has worked extensively in animation, while Bogan’s credits include Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia and Spirit Untamed. The filmmakers have described the project as a new adventure featuring original songs, new characters and familiar faces, while retaining the distinctive British character associated with Dahl’s world. They have also suggested that the film will be more twisted than audiences might expect while remaining sympathetic to the legacy of the original material.
Waititi has also spoken enthusiastically about taking on the role of Wonka, describing the character as special to him and expressing excitement about voicing the eccentric candy-maker in animated form.
Connor, meanwhile, said he was immediately attracted to the project’s early concept art and the directors’ vision. He described the film as a fresh and distinctive interpretation that still captures the spirit of the original.
The film is produced by Academy Award winner Aron Warner, whose credits include the original Shrek, alongside Timothy Yoo, who produced Back to the Outback. Waititi is also serving as an executive producer. The project comes from Netflix Animation Studios and is being positioned as a new interpretation of Dahl’s world, with original music forming part of the film.
The decision to give Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory a global theatrical release on November 5, 2027, followed by its Netflix debut on December 22, also highlights Netflix’s growing use of theatrical windows for major animated productions. The six-week gap between the theatrical opening and streaming release gives the film time to establish itself in cinemas before becoming available to Netflix subscribers worldwide.
The theatrical strategy also gives the film an opportunity to build a wider audience before its streaming debut, particularly given the global recognition of Dahl’s characters and the combination of established actors in the voice cast. With Sony Pictures Entertainment handling international theatrical distribution, the film will have a broad cinema rollout before moving to Netflix.
The world of Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory will also extend beyond the film itself. Beginning this autumn, the Ferrero Group will launch a Wonka range featuring 10 seasonal and limited-edition products spanning chocolate, sugar confectionery, ice cream and cereal. The products will be available in the United States and selected European markets, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany.
Moose Toys has also been named the film’s master toy partner, with a full toy line planned for launch in 2027, closer to the theatrical release. The consumer-products programme gives the project a presence beyond the film itself and establishes an early commercial rollout ahead of its cinema debut.
At the centre of the project, however, is the decision to take Dahl’s world in a new narrative direction rather than revisit the original Golden Ticket story. The film introduces a new Charlie, a new generation of children and a different chapter in Wonka’s life, while retaining the factory and the eccentric candy-maker that audiences associate with the property.
The combination of a new story, a high-profile voice cast, original music and a global theatrical release gives Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory a significant launch platform. The film also arrives at a time when Netflix is increasingly using cinemas as part of the release strategy for selected animated projects, rather than treating theatrical exhibition solely as a brief promotional window.
For now, the release schedule is confirmed: Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory will open in theatres worldwide on November 5, 2027, before arriving on Netflix on December 22, 2027. With Taika Waititi voicing Willy Wonka, Kit Connor playing the new Charlie Paley and Kate Winslet, Nicola Coughlan, Charithra Chandran, Samson Kayo, Christopher Chung and Helena Bonham Carter joining the ensemble, Netflix is assembling a substantial voice cast for its new animated journey into Roald Dahl’s world.
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