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"Timmy is simply the perfect person for this role, because he's an extraordinary actor. I think he's incredibly funny, he moves brilliantly, and he has all the quirkiness and eccentricity needed to embody Willy Wonka. But he's also able to access deep emotions and channel them into his performance, which is a rare quality."

"Our version finds Wonka at a completely different time in his life, and although we deliberately littered Timothée's performance with references to Wilder's, I think this is an entirely new version of the character. I know Timmy has been rewatching those films, but he has also gone beyond that, dug deep within himself to find his truth about this role. His is a very special talent. And he is without a doubt my favorite Wonka."

"He is so young, and he has achieved incredible things very quickly. He is extremely talented. I remember when I saw Call Me by Your Name-I was overwhelmed by his performance. I had seen him in Homeland, but I didn't even realize it was the same actor. I think he is one of the best performers of his generation, and here it was one of those lucky coincidences where you can find the right actor for the right part. I've watched several of his other rehearsals, and for example even in Lady Bird, where he has a small part, he made me laugh so much, he impressed me. Not to mention in Dune... he really is a complete, extraordinary actor. He has the

full control of himself, and a great awareness, he likes to look back at himself immediately after shooting a scene and then find new nuances to his performance. Many directors don't like this technique, but I found it perfect for this film. So ours was a true collaboration. I think the thing that will surprise audiences most, about this Wonka, is the way Timmy managed to find an emotional reading of the character, without losing his madness and 'eccentricity, and also his comedy. He has managed to combine a larger-than-life protagonist with an authentic and intimate truth: it's surprising, but maybe not even that surprising, given how extraordinary his career has already been so far."