A world of pure imagination can be found anywhere, even within something as simple as a sidewalk on a Sunday afternoon, if you’re willing to see it that way. As Timothée Chalamet sings in his latest film Wonka, all one needs to do is simply look around and view it! But this Sunday, Los Angeles based Chalamet fans (and, not naming names, but one particular New-York-based Chalamet fan who caught a flight to be there) didn’t have to do much imagining, as the star immediately made his way over to eager admirers waiting across the street from the film’s red carpet premiere.
Excited screams could be heard from any vantage point as a titular star-carrying black SUV made its way down the blocked off street surrounded by fans and barricades, with Chalamet waving at fans through an open window in the backseat. Anyone who knows the first few things about the actor would have been able to guess his next move: exiting the car on the opposite side of the carpet to greet fans first and foremost. This is not new for Chalamet, a self described “fan,” himself. The star often makes a point to meet as many supporters as time will allow at his public appearances. This comes as a delight to the aforementioned fans who can then come to the realization that the phrase never meet your heroes simply does not apply to them.
Chalamet, clad in what Vogue described as a “bar of chocolate cosplay,” is no stranger to style. Many of his looks from the ongoing Wonka press tour have been bold and chic, a few even featuring a very popular detail- the lack of a shirt. While that wasn’t the case for his US leg of the tour, his custom Tom Ford suit was certainly all of the above, bold, chic and stylish.
After appearing in as many selfies as one man possibly could, Chalamet hit the carpet to, you guessed it, appear in even more. The carpet, where Chalamet greeted even more fans, was absolutely decked out in more candy paraphernalia than originally imaginable. And it wouldn’t be resemblant of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory if you couldn’t eat some of that candy, so the walls were lined with edible Wonka bars for carpet-goers to enjoy.
Wonka tells the story of a young Willy Wonka, pursuing his dream of being a world famous chocolatier. However, this dream doesn’t come easy, and after many unfortunate run-ins with the chief of police (Keegan Michael-Key) as well as some particularly frustrating encounters with a certain “little orange man,” (Hugh Grant) as he describes, Willy teams up with the exuberant Noodle, (Calah Lane), an orphan who has never tasted chocolate before, to overcome his powerful competition: the chocolate cartel. The movie is a delightfully fun film for all ages, and the premiere’s festivities perfectly encapsulated the dream world that the trilogy has illustrated on screen throughout its three films.
On the candy-lined carpet, in addition to Chalamet, was Paterson Joseph, Calah Lane, Hugh Grant, Keegan-Michael Key, director Paul King and more, as well as other special guests like John Stamos and Kelly Rowland, who both brought along their kids to enjoy the heartfelt film.
Once the red carpet festivities had concluded and my fellow attendees and I had taken our seats inside of the Regency Village Theatre, Chalamet, joined by the cast, took to the front of the room to kick off the screening. “A big thank you to Paul King,” he started, before quickly being interrupted by a crying baby somewhere in the audience. “Oh no, is it that bad?” he joked.
“Easy for me to say, but these are the kind of movies we need right now,” he continued. “I think this one will leave you with a smile on your face. I don’t want to speak too soon. But this is definitely the sweetest project I’ve ever been a part of.”
It is utterly impossible to leave the theater after seeing the film *without* Pure Imagination stuck in your head, and Chalamet’s rendition did not disappoint. The undoubtedly ear-wormed attendees, myself included, were invited to walk along the dazzling red carpet to get from the screening to the after-party, where the entryway was lined with umbrellas mimicking one of the grandiose dancing scenes in the film, in which Chalamet was front and center.
In the number, Willy is penalized for daydreaming and charged a fine, but that couldn’t be further from the case at this party. Though there was no fine for daydreaming, it was not at all necessary, as it was decked out with festive crafting stations, numerous hot chocolate bars, video games, and of course, a massive candy bar complete with just about every type of candy imaginable. It truly was an evening of pure imagination.
The party featured a handful of interactive features that does the exact same job as the film: making anyone who steps into the Wonka world feel like a kid again. Earlier this year, Warner Bros Pictures teamed up with Xbox to roll out an array of Wonka-inspired gaming paraphernalia that aimed to transcend the boundaries of traditional gaming merchandise. The centerpiece of the collaboration was the debut of the Xbox Wonka Console, a rendition of the Xbox Series X that mirrors the aesthetic of the infamous Wonka bar. At the glistening Xbox station, party guests had the opportunity to take the console for a spin and enjoy a variety of games and features.
The fun didn’t stop there. At one of the craft stations, guests could make their very own holiday snow globes (which, for reference, I learned the hard way that you are not allowed to bring through airport security, and any pleas that it is very important to you because it came from the Wonka premiere will not be taken into consideration) and create a scene that is beautifully reminiscent of the colorful atmosphere of Willy’s chocolate shop. Even more fun (and take-back-to-New-York-friendly) was Noodle’s very own candy bracelet making station, where guests were treated to colorful (and candy shaped!) beads to create their own friendship bracelets. All of these activities will most likely work up an appetite, and luckily, the party featured a delightful selection of themed bites, including Slugworth’s Sliders and Classic Brit With A Twist, fish and chips with chicken tenders.
There was no shortage of joy at the Wonka Premiere and after party, but the night was made even sweeter by reuniting with my favorite actor, and the man who kickstarted my very own journalism career. That’s a story for another day, but just as Willy’s mom tells him in the film, it’s not about the chocolate, it’s about the people that we share it with.
