Timothée Chalamet : la nouvelle coqueluche de Hollywood

Prince of cinema, golden boy of the Seventh Art, darling of Hollywood… All superlatives are good to talk about Timothée Chalamet. Since his appearances in television series in 2008, the 28-year-old actor has forged an impressive career. Where will he stop? In his field, he is the star of his generation. The French-American actor is enjoying success, making bold role choices, and cultivating a likable charm tinged with a distant charm that delights his fans. The Timothée Chalamet paradox lies in this: the youth and ardor of a promising actor mixed with the confidence and star aura of an artist who already has the entire industry at his feet.

So today, beyond his nuanced acting and intense gaze, he is a figure that matters to the cinema industry. Proof of this is his latest coup: the star of Wonka and Dune has just signed a contract with Warner Bros. to develop projects with the group and primarily shoot films produced by the studios. Although it is not an exclusive contract, the agreement represents a major coup for Warner Bros., ensuring that they keep the brightest talent in their stable. Last year, Tom Cruise signed a similar contract. In a statement reported by Variety, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-presidents and CEO Mike DeLuca and Pam Abdy express their excitement about their new deal: “Over the past few years, we have admired not only Timothée’s commitment to his craft, which is reflected in the breadth and depth of his varied roles, but also his unwavering dedication to devoting 100% of his time and attention to every project he has been involved in here at Warner Bros. and elsewhere. His collaboration on the [promotional campaigns for] Dune and Wonka is something we have all immensely enjoyed, and the results speak for themselves.”

Box-office record

According to Box Office Mojo, the first installment of Denis Villeneuve’s saga (released in 2021) grossed $406,018,000 worldwide and Wonka (2023), $632,205,943. One conclusion: Timothée Chalamet as the lead, whatever the role, is a hit. Between the intriguing science-fiction hero Paul Atreides and the children’s favorite chocolatier, Willy Wonka, there is a whole world and a lot, a lot of money. According to Variety, the actor earned over $8 million for his role as a confectioner. “Working with Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy, and their teams on Wonka and Dune over the past few years has been a deeply enriching experience,” said the principal in a statement. “They are studio heads who believe in true filmmaking, and I am very grateful for their support as an actor, producer, and collaborator. This partnership seems to be a natural next step. Let’s go!”

It must be said that these last two successes signed by Warner Bros. not only allowed him to earn a lot of money but also to break a record: he was the lead actor in the two most profitable films at the American box office in the last eight months, an achievement previously accomplished by John Travolta, who carried Saturday Night Fever and Grease on his shoulders in 1978. Since then, and until Timothée Chalamet, no one had done as well. So, with his new contract, the actor is thinking big and considering “double-digit salaries for leading roles.” According to Variety, “the studio has signed a multi-year feature film deal with the actor to collaborate on future projects as a star and producer.” He had already taken his first steps in production with Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All, a role he has resumed for a film currently in production: Fully Real Stranger, the biopic by James Mangold on Bob Dylan in which he plays the title role. The film will notably tell the story of Bob Dylan’s beginnings and rise to fame on the New York scene.