In what is no surprise, Warner Bros Motion Picture Group is getting into business with its Dune and Wonka star Timothée Chalamet, and has hammered a multi-year first look feature film deal with the Oscar nominee as actor and producer.
Between the Dune movies and Wonka, Chalamet’s recent pics with the Burbank, CA lot have delivered $1.6 billion to studio coffers. Chalamet became the first actor in over four decades to star in the top two domestic-grossing films released in an 8-month period.
The latest talent deal is one of many hammered out by Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-Chairs and CEOs, Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, as they set their future slate at the studio. Since being announced for the top studio job at Warner Bros back in June 2022, the duo have made deals with Tom Cruise, Jon M. Chu, and T Street’s Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman.
Said De Luca and Abdy, “Over the last few years, we have admired not only Timothée’s commitment to his craft, which is evident in the range and depth of his varied roles, but also his unwavering dedication to give 100% of his time and attention to every project he has made here at Warner Bros. and elsewhere. His collaboration on the campaigns for Dune and Wonka is something we all enjoyed immensely, and the results speak for themselves. We continue to build for the future of the theatrical film business at Warner Bros. Discovery and are thrilled Timothée has chosen our studio to be his creative home.”
Said Chalamet, “Working with Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy and their teams on Wonka and Dune over these last few years has been a deeply rewarding experience. These are studio heads who believe in real movie making, and I’m so grateful for their support as an actor, producer and collaborator. This partnership feels like a natural next step. Let’s go!”.
Chalamet currently stars in Legendary/Warner Bros.’ Dune: Part Two which continues to hold like a rock at the box office, grossing $575.5M worldwide and counting. The actor’s turn in Wonka was the star at the Christmas year-end box office racking up a global B.O. of $632M. That’s easily Chalamet’s highest grossing solo project (he also co-starred in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar which technically ranks as his highest grossing movie on his resume at $733M WW).
Chalamet was nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars in 2018 for Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me by Your Name. Chalamet was the youngest “Best Actor” Oscar nominee since 1939 for his breakout role in Call Me by Your Name. He also is a 3x Golden Globe nominee for Wonka (Best Actor, Comedy/Musical), Call Me by Your Name (Best Actor, Drama) and Beautiful Boy (Supporting Actor). Among the filmmakers Chalamet has worked with in addition to Guadagnino and Nolan are Greta Gerwig, Denis Villeneuve, Adam McKay and Wes Anderson. He has starred in five Best Picture Oscar nominees: Call Me by Your Name, Lady Bird, Little Women, Dune and Don’t Look Up.
Chalamet previously served as a producer on Guadagnino’s Bones and All which was produced independently and sold to MGM. He’s currently filming James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown for Searchlight, in which he stars as Bob Dylan and also serves as a producer.