Waititi to helm Netflix’s Roald Dahl series
March 9, 2020
By Nik Roseveare
Academy Award-winning writer, director, and actor Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok) is set to write, direct, and executive produce two original animated series for Netflix.
The first is a series based on the world and characters of beloved Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The second is a wholly original take on the Oompa-Loompas, the workforce of the chocolate factory, who will star in their own event series.
Netflix said the shows will “retain the quintessential spirit and tone of the original story” while building out the world and characters beyond the pages of the beloved Dahl book.
Waititi signing on for these series marks the beginning of an extensive partnership between Netflix and The Roald Dahl Story Company, which will reimagine many of the celebrated stories of Dahl, including Matilda, The BFG, The Twits, and more.
“I grew up reading Dahl stories and lived large parts of my young life in those magical worlds, so finding just the right creative partner to bring Willy Wonka, Charlie and the Oompa-Loompas to life in animation was a daunting task […] until Taika walked into the room. Then, it was really obvious. If Dahl had created a character of a filmmaker to adapt his work, I’m pretty sure he would have created Taika,” said Netflix VP of Original Animation Melissa Cobb.
“In the words of Willy Wonka himself – we are ‘Delighted! Charmed! Overjoyed!’ with Taika’s appointment on this project. There is something undeniably Wonka-esque about Taika’s creative flair and inimitable sense of humor and we cannot think of anyone more perfectly suited to leading the creative charge on these first of their kind, feature quality Netflix shows,” added Gideon Simeloff, Commercial and Entertainment Director, Roald Dahl Story Company.