Sony Pictures will handle international theatrical distribution on Netflix Animation Studios’ Charlie vs. The Chocolate Factory in November 2027.
The feature will open globally on November 5 2027 and get a 47-day exclusive theatrical window before it debuts on the platform on December 22 2027. It is understood there will be box-office reporting although it was unclear at time of writing who will publish the numbers.
Netflix and Sony recently announced their first international distribution arrangement on Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, which marks the first time there will be box-office reporting on a Netflix film. The fantasy tentpole from the director of Barbie is scheduled for a 49-day exclusive theatrical window from February 12 leading up to the April 2 2027 debut on the service.
News of the release plan for Charlie vs. The Chocolate Factory will only intensify speculation in Hollywood as to whether there is a theatrical strategy shift afoot at Netflix, which has built in theatrical components on a number of films for star directors for several years.
The streamer recently scheduled a 47-day exclusive theatrical window for its upcoming awards season contender La Bola Negra from Cannes joint best director winners Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo starting on October 16. It will release another of its contenders, David Fincher’s Untitled Cliff Booth Movie starring Brad Pitt, exclusively on Imax for two weeks starting on November 25. Last year Netflix mounted a theatrical release for a sing-along edition of KPop Demon Hunters, the company’s most-watched feature of all time.
Netflix sources have for some time been messaging that the company does not envision a shift in distribution strategy and continues to adopt an opportunistic approach to theatrical. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos, chief content officer Bela Bajaria and film head Dan Lin need to appease influential filmmakers like Gerwig and Fincher with tentpoles that would expect to receive substantial theatrical releases at legacy studios. Leadership will also welcome an additional revenue stream.
Kit Connor and Taika Waititi star in the Charlie vs. The Chocolate Factory voice cast as Charlie and Willy Wonka, respectively. Netflix announced new cast members on Wednesday including Kate Winslet, Helena Bonham Carter, Nicola Coughlan and Charithra Chandran from Bridgerton, Samson Kayo from F1: The Movie, and Christopher Chung from Slow Horses.
Jared Stern and Elaine Bogan direct the film in which Wonka returns to his factory after serving time for turning a child into a blueberry. Meanwhile Charlie and a new batch of children plot to break in and steal a Wonka Bar to save their families from eviction. Aron Warner and Timothy Yoo serve as producers and Waititi is executive producer.
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