Jackass star Wee Man slams Hugh Grant's casting as an Oompa Loompa in Wonka film
Ever since the first trailer for Wonka released last month, the hype train has been in full force.
The movie will take us back to before the events of Roald Dahl’s classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, serving as a prequel following the rise of the titular chocolatier, played by Timothée Chalamet.
Chalamet will be the third actor to portray Willy Wonka after Gene Wilder in 1971's Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory's Johnny Depp in 2005.
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But while Chalamet may play the main part, it is Hugh Grant's casting as an Oompa Loompa in the Wonka movie that has created big talking points.
The movie is being directed by Paddington and Paddington 2 director Paul King, who dug back into his contacts book to pick out an incredibly famous name to be in his movie.
That was of course Grant - who memorably starred in Paddington 2.
Grant's casting was revealed during CinemaCon 2023 at the Warner Bros presentation, with footage shown to convention audiences featuring Grant's face on a CGI Oompa Loompa.
Grant has said his character is a 'perfectly respectable size' and is quite 'sassy'.
It's the latest in a line of frivolous and fabulous characters the famous actor has played and appeared to have an absolute ball with.
But while Grant was likely the dream appointment for King, others have spoke out against his casting.
Jackass performer Jason Acuña, best known for his stage name of 'Wee Man', has gone viral for his reaction to Grant getting the part.
Acuña, who has dwarfism, said: "So I guess Hugh Grant, you’re now identifying as a little person."
The Jackass actor's comments come after actor and comedian George Coppen spoke against the casting in an interview with the BBC last month.
The actor, who also has dwarfism, said the part should have gone to someone with the condition, as they often find it tricky to find breaks in the industry.
He said: "A lot of people, myself included, argue that dwarfs should be offered everyday roles in dramas and soaps, but we aren’t getting offered those roles.
"A lot of actors [with dwarfism] feel like we are being pushed out of the industry we love.
"One door is being closed but they have forgotten to open the next one."
Criticism or not, Wonka is set to release in cinemas in the US and UK on 15 December.
Topics: Film and TV, Jackass, Hugh Grant
Callum Jones