Taika Waititi Directing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Series for Netflix

Academy Award winner Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) is set to write, direct and executive produce a pair of animated series inspired by Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for Netflix.

While the first project will be closely based on Dahl’s popular children’s novel, the second project, The Oompa-Loompas, will be a completely original take. Waititi signing on to develop the two series marks the beginning of Netflix and The Roald Dahl Story Company’s extensive partnership, which will see the reimagining of other Dahl stories, including Matilda, The BFG, The Twits and more.

Melissa Cobb, Netflix VP of original animation, said: “I grew up reading Dahl stories and lived large parts of my young life in those magical worlds, so finding just the right creative partner to bring Willy Wonka, Charlie and the Oompa-Loompas to life in animation was a daunting task…until Taika walked into the room. Then, it was really obvious. If Dahl had created a character of a filmmaker to adapt his work, I’m pretty sure he would have created Taika.”

Gideon Simeloff, commercial and entertainment director at The Roald Dahl Story Company, added: “In the words of Willy Wonka himself—we are ‘Delighted! Charmed! Overjoyed!’ with Taika’s appointment on this project. There is something undeniably Wonka-esque about Taika’s creative flair and inimitable sense of humor and we cannot think of anyone more perfectly suited to leading the creative charge on these first of their kind, feature quality Netflix shows.”