Paul King: Wonka's the 'perfect Christmas movie'

Paul King believes ‘Wonka’ is the “perfect Christmas movie”.

The 45-year-old filmmaker released his ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ prequel – which stars Timothee Chalamet as chocolatier Willy Wonka – earlier this month and he thinks the themes are the musical are just right for the festive season.

He told Radio Times magazine: “In ‘Wonka’, I feel we have made the perfect Christmas movie.

“It’s like a great chocolate.

“It’s got a fun, colourful exterior and a warm, sweet centre that will leave you with a delicious aftertaste!

“And while it would be great fun to scoff the whole box down on your own, you’re better off sharing it with your family and friends.”

Paul recently defended criticism of the film after he faced a backlash for casting Hugh Grant as an Oompa-Loompa.

Paul told BBC News: "Dahl describes (the Oompa-Loompas) as no higher than my knee or about the size of a medium size doll.

"We tried to use the iconic look that they came up with in the 1971 movie with the green hair and the orange skin, and merge that with the way Dahl described them, in a way I think they may have done, had they had the technology we have today."

Grant's role was questioned earlier this year by George Coppen, an actor with dwarfism, who felt that the part should have gone to a performer with the condition because of the limited number of roles available to them.

He told the BBC: "A lot of actors [with dwarfism] feel like we are being pushed out of the industry we love.

"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.

"One door is being closed but they have forgotten to open the next one."