Breaking News: Douglas Hodge to Play 'Willy Wonka' in West End's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY!

According to the Daily Mail, Douglas Hodge will play Willy Wonka in Sam Mendes, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the West End at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

The Mail's Baz Bamigboye reports that Mendes said he wanted to cast a "proper actor" for the role. And Olivier and Tony Award winner Hodge fits the bill.

The actor, who was originally considering playing P. T. Barnum in a revival of the musical Barnum before landing this role in "Charlie," has appeared on Broadway in La Cage Aux Folles and will appear this year in Jamie Lloyd's Cyrano de Bergerac. Hodge has also appeared in Donmar Warehouse's Inadmissible Evidence and West End productions of Guys and Dolls and Bashville.

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick's production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will open at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in June 2013. Previews start on 18 May 2013. The theatre currently houses SHREK, which will close in February 2013.

The new stage musical will be directed by Mendes, with a book by David Greig and new songs from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Set and costume design will be by Mark Thompson with choreography by Peter Darling. Other members of the creative team include: Doug Besterman (orchestrations); Nicholas Skilbeck (Music Director); Paul Pyant (Lighting Designer); Paul Arditti (Sound Designer) and Jon Driscoll (Video and Projection Designer).

The mysterious Willy Wonka is opening his Chocolate Factory for just one day, and for Charlie Bucket it promises to be a mouth-watering chance to feast his eyes on sweets beyond his wildest imagination. Academy Award-winning film and theatre director Sam Mendes will bring Roald Dahl’s much-loved classic to life in this world premiere stage production.

Tickets will go on sale to the public in October 2012. Sign up for news at the website: www.CharlieandtheChocolateFactory.co.uk.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.