Although it's still a long time before fans will get to see Wonka, there are a few things about the prequel movie that they should know about first.

Willy Wonka is coming back to the big screen with Timothée Chalamet starring as the eccentric Wonka. New footage was shown this week at CinemaCon, and the audience got a first look at how the chocolatier built his fantastical candy factory. In this version, fans will get to see a young Wonka, before any of the shenanigans with Charlie and Grandpa Joe.

As audiences prepare to return to the world of "Pure Imagination," they're cautiously wondering what angle this installment will take. Now that details are coming out about the project, here is what's known so far.

Star-Studded Cast

Starring Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet in the title role is only the tip of the iceberg. The supporting cast is full of huge names in Hollywood.

Oscar-winner Olivia Coleman and nominee Sally Hawkins are set to appear, with Jim Carter, Keegan-Michael Key, and Rowan Atkinson rounding out the cast. Apart from Hawkins', who is set to play Chalamet's mother (via Deadline), the roles they are playing are yet to be known. However, with the cast list looking very impressive, fans are looking forward to seeing what other characters they may be playing.

Musical Numbers

It has been revealed that, like the original 1971 movie, this Wonka will also have several musical numbers. Chalamet has shown himself to be a box office draw in the past couple of years, but this will be Chalamet's first time singing in a movie.

The audience at CinemaCon this week was able to see a song and dance number performed by the cast (via Deadline). In it, Chalamet is seen singing about chocolate while selling it illegally on the street. Keegan-Michael Key, who is not a stranger to musicals, is also featured in the musical number.

Directed By Paul King

Director of Paddington 2, Paul King will be directing Wonka. He also co-wrote the script with Simon Farnby, who he previously wrote Paddington 2 with (via GamesRadar).

The beloved Paddington film has a rare 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics and audiences champion both Paddington films as some of the best cartoon-turned live-action adaptations in the last decade. Fans should feel confident that this film is in good hands with Paul King behind the wheel.

Prequel to 1964 Novel

This movie is confirmed to take place before the events of the 1964 Roald Dahl novel (via People). Unlike the 1971 and 2005 adaptations of the book, this film is an original story, not told in the books.

This raises more mystery as to what the storyline will be. This movie aims to explore how Wonka got to where he was in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory years later, which Heyman also confirmed.

Pays Homage To Original Film

During the Warner Bros. presentation at CinemaCon, the audience reported that the footage starts off with notes from the iconic tune "Pure Imagination" from the 1971 film.

While this tip of the hat might not suggest there are strong similarities between the two movies, it does show that this new film is paying homage in a small hint to the Gene Wilder classic.

Willy Wonka's Family

The character of Willy Wonka has always been elusive in each adaptation. Not much is known of his family. In the 2005 movie, his father is shown briefly to be a dentist who forbade Wonka from eating chocolate.

This would be new territory for the franchise to tackle. Exploring Wonka's home life and family could be fascinating for audiences. If they are at all as eccentric and charismatic as the title character, fans could be in for a wild ride.

Not A Dark Tone

In a recent interview with TIME, Chalamet confirmed that this won't be a dark take on the character's history. While some thought the 2005 Johnny Depp portrayal had dark undertones, fans should rest assured this is not that type of movie.

Chalamet states this film will be a celebration of being off-center. Knowing that Paul King is directing, this could be a hint that while it may show struggles and heartache, this is ultimately going to be a positive take on the character.

Produced By David Heyman and Luke Kelly

Producer of films in the Harry Potter franchise, David Heyman is no stranger to making big-budget critically and commercially successful films. Luke Kelly has produced the most recent adaptations of Roald Dahl's other beloved books, The Witches and Matilda.

The involvement of these producers leans toward this being a high-budget and family-friendly film (via Deadline). They both have a good track history in the field.

Not In Shared Universe

It has been confirmed that this movie is not in a shared universe with the other chocolate factory movies (via Collider). This will be a stand-alone film.

While the inclusion of "Pure Imagination" suggests they may hint at its predecessors in tone and aesthetic, this version of the character is not the same as the other two. With this information, fans still won't know what exactly to expect, but their curiosity will hopefully soon be satiated with a teaser.

Releasing December 2023

The tentative release date is set to be around the holidays of next year. Like many other films, Wonka has been delayed to December 15, 2023 (via Collider).

The 9-month delay will hopefully be the last one for this movie. As fans now have to wait a bit longer to revisit the mystical song-filled candy factory, they will be sure to find out more in the coming months. The enthusiastic response from the CinemaCon audience should encourage fans to look forward to the 2023 release.

Next: 9 Ways A Willy Wonka Origin Story Could Add To The Current Story