Timothée Chalamet Reveals His “Riskiest” Role Yet That “Didn’t Get Its Fair Shake”

by

Timothée Chalamet, known for his work in both big franchises and independent movies, has shared which role he felt was the most daring to take on.

Timothée Chalamet first gained attention with a small part in the film Interstellar. He truly became a star in 2017 with leading roles in Call Me by Your Name and Lady Bird, earning his first Oscar nomination for the former. Since then, he’s appeared in popular films like Little Women, Wonka, Dune and Dune: Part Two. He’s also been nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Bob Dylan and his recent performance in Marty Supreme.

During a discussion with Matthew McConaughey at the University of Texas (reported by Variety), Timothée Chalamet was asked about what guides his choices in roles and if he’s ever been surprised or intimidated by following his gut. Chalamet explained that his main priority is working with talented directors. He believes a strong director is essential for a great performance. He shared that this approach led him to take on the role in Paul King’s Wonka, even though it was an unexpected move for his career, and he feels the film deserves more attention. You can see his full response below.

Taking on ‘Wonka’ felt like the biggest risk I’ve taken. I’d already built a career doing more serious films, so it was a big change. But I really admire the director, Paul King – I think ‘Paddington’ and ‘Paddington 2’ are fantastic. I actually feel like ‘Wonka’ didn’t get the appreciation it deserved, even though it did well at the box office. I thought it was a bit rebellious to do a movie that wasn’t trying to be edgy or about heavy topics, but that didn’t really resonate with people. That’s okay, though. At least I got a lot of free chocolate!

After starring in intense and dramatic films like Call Me by Your Name, Lady Bird, Little Women, and Dune, Timothée Chalamet took a noticeably different direction with a musical family film, playing Willy Wonka. While he’d shown his comedic side in a supporting role in Don’t Look Up, Wonka put him front and center as the lead in a much lighter, more humorous story. The project fit with his desire to work with talented directors, allowing him to team up with Paul King, known for Paddington, following collaborations with directors like Nolan, Gerwig, and Villeneuve.

The movie Wonka received mostly positive reviews, earning an 82% ‘Certified Fresh’ score and a 90% ‘Verified Hot’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics particularly liked Timothée Chalamet’s performance, even though his portrayal was naturally compared to Gene Wilder’s iconic role. The film was also a big financial hit, earning $634.7 million globally on a $125 million budget. However, it didn’t receive the same level of critical praise or awards attention as some of Chalamet’s other films, which may be why he felt it wasn’t fully appreciated and why some viewers misinterpreted his comments.

Although the movie Wonka didn’t achieve the success Timothée Chalamet expected, taking the role hasn’t harmed his career at all. He’s received widespread praise for his work in films like Dune: Part Two, A Complete Unknown, and Marty Supreme, winning a Golden Globe for the latter. He’s currently the frontrunner for the Best Actor Oscar and will return to the big screen in Dune: Part Three this December.

Read More

2026-02-21 21:38