- "No son of mine is going to be a chocolatier!"
— Wilbur trying to control Willy's future
Dr. Wilbur Wonka is the overarching antagonist of the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He is Willy Wonka's estranged father whom he hasn't spoken to in about 30 years.
He does not appear in the original book nor the 1971 version, but he is similar to Slugworth who was in the 1971 version.
Background[]
Wilbur and Willy's house
Willy was forbidden to eat any candy, because his father, Wilbur Wonka is a well-known dentist who hates candy, especially chocolate, as they can cause cavities. One time, Wilbur threw out all of Willy's Halloween candy into the fireplace as Willy watched in despair. However, while cleaning the fireplace, Willy noticed a small chocolate ball managed to not get destroyed in the fire. Willy ate it, his first piece of candy, and it transformed his life as he yearned for more, even in spite of having braces.
Willy told his father he wanted to be a chocolatier, but his father sternly said that would not be happening. Willy announced he would run away from home to pursue the candy capitals of the world: Switzerland and Bavaria. His father replied to go ahead, but not expect him when he returned home. Willy left, although he only went to a flags of the world exhibit in a museum for some reason, likely because a lone child without money would not be able to travel to other countries. When he came back, his father and even his house was no longer there, leaving him without a guardian.
Wilbur seemed to move his house to what appears to be the middle of nowhere. Despite this, Wilbur kept a collection of newspaper articles surrounding his son's successes and hardships.
Film[]
Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket visit Wilbur near the end of the film.
Trivia[]
Willy Wonka's mother in Wonka
- In the script, his name is said to be Wilbur Wadsworth Wonka, although it is unclear if this is still canon.
- In Tim Burton's continuity, Willy Wonka's flashbacks never showed his mother. In Wonka (2023), his mother is seen and it is mentioned she died from illness when Willy was a young child.
- While they may be seen as being from two separate continuities, it is notable Wonka's mother was proud of his future dreams of opening a candy store, while Wilbur demonizes candy. If one amusingly imagines the two characters were once together anyway, then it can be theorized their conflicting ideas towards candy (and its health impacts) is a reason they separated.
- Another imagining is that the two parents were together, but Wilbur was traumatized by his wife's death, and apart from cavities, Wilbur never wanted candy in the house because it reminded him of his wife's passing.
- Tim Burton wanted the idea of an estranged father in the film. This was inspired by a trip Tim Burton took to visit his dying mother in 2002. Despite their relationship being not great, she owned framed movie posters of all his films. Burton said, "I think all artistic endeavors are a way to resolve things, a form of therapy, a fantasy of resolving something. That's why I chose to resolve it that way."
- Burton thought Wilbur would explain Willy Wonka himself and that otherwise Willy Wonka would be "just a weird guy".
- Wilbur Wonka as a character has a divided reception among viewers. Some think he is an unnecessary addition, while others feel he makes Wonka sympathetic and has themes about how parents often get in the ways of their child's dreams.
Quotes[]
- "Now, let's see what the damage is this year, shall we?"
- "Caramels - they'd get stuck in your braces, wouldn't they?"
- "Lollipops - what we call 'cavities on a stick'."
- "Then we have all this, all this, chocolate."
- "You know, just last week, I was reading in a very important medical journal that some children are allergic to chocolate. Makes their noses itch."
- "Really? But why take a chance." (creepy smile)
- "Candy is a waste of time."
- "No son of mine is going to be a chocolatier."
- "Go ahead, but I won't be here when you come back."
- "Do you have an appointment?"
- "Open. Now, let's see what the damage is, shall we?"
- "Heavens, I haven't seen bicuspids like these since... Since... Willy?"
- "All these years... and you haven't flossed?" (in the end)
| Characters |
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Golden Ticket winners
Augustus Gloop (1971) Families
GLOOP: Mrs. Gloop (1971) • Mr. Gloop (1971) Other characters
TBA |