Hugh Grant has been very upfront about how much he hated playing an Oompa-Loompa in “Wonka,” which required him to wear an uncomfortable motion capture suit and try to envision how his performance would ultimately be rendered. At the same time, it’s also clear that he’s maintained a very positive relationship with director Paul King. The actor revealed as much in his interview with People, observing, “We seem to be on a wavelength.” King, for his part, told the outlet that he didn’t have to try very hard to get Grant to join “Wonka” as an Oompa-Loompa.
“I think he has a very pleasing lack of vanity. He’s very happy to look as ridiculous as I ask him to — I got him in a dog suit eating dog food in ‘Paddington 2.’ I think once he’d done that, he’d already hit bottom,” the director joked. “This was coming back up in the dignity state.”
Fortunately, it seems like King and Grant’s ongoing collaboration has produced another effectively sweet, memorable movie. Indeed, the early reviews for “Wonka” have been overwhelmingly positive. Contrary to what some people may have initially predicted, many have asserted that King actually does stick the landing with “Wonka.” Whether or not its critical reception will boost its box office earnings remains to be seen. Either way, it doesn’t seem that King and Grant are sick of each other yet, which means they may work together again in the future.
For what it’s worth, it won’t be the least bit surprising if they do. The two, after all, seem to share a similarly dry yet absurd sense of humor.
