Steven Spielberg Rumored to Be Coaxing Gene Wilder out of Retirement, but for What?

Skepticism level: Wonka.

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In news that we hope isn’t just pure imagination, Steven Spielberg is apparently trying to convince Gene Wilder to return to acting of an upcoming project. But which one?

The rumor comes from Ain’t It Cool News, who say a source old them Wilder and Spielberg have been meeting, and another source confirmed that the meetings are taking place. It’s all a bit sketchy and unconfirmed, but it’s just too exciting a prospect to ignore. They say these sources believe Spielberg is trying to tap Wilder for a voice part in Roald Dahl adaptation The BFG, which has already wrapped shooting and would be a nice callback to that other Roald Dahl adaptation Wilder is known for.

On the other hand, Spielberg is also working on Ready Player One, and Wilder as the film’s James Halliday, who created the story’s virtual universe and will leave it to whatever player discovers a certain secret, sounds like it would perfectly mirror his Wonka and be a great reference for movie audiences.

Although the “sources” point to the former, we’re certainly hoping there’s a chance at the latter—and really hoping the two aren’t just getting together to play cards or something. Still, it’s conveniently “early” in the talks, which would be an easy excuse when the rumor pans out, so keep your expectations in check. Though, Wilder has mentioned in the past that there are some talented people who could convince him to come out of retirement, so hopefully, at the very least, this rumor won’t turn out like:

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(via /Film)

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Dan Van Winkle
Dan Van Winkle (he) is an editor and manager who has been working in digital media since 2013, first at now-defunct <em>Geekosystem</em> (RIP), and then at <em>The Mary Sue</em> starting in 2014, specializing in gaming, science, and technology. Outside of his professional experience, he has been active in video game modding and development as a hobby for many years. He lives in North Carolina with Lisa Brown (his wife) and Liz Lemon (their dog), both of whom are the best, and you will regret challenging him at <em>Smash Bros.</em>