Horror film inspired by shambolic Glasgow Wonka Experience is happening – here’s who should be cast

Kirsty Paterson in character as an Oompa Loompa at the Glasgow Wonka experience
The drama is now hitting our screens – but who should be cast? (Picture: ITV)

It may only be March, but 2024 has kicked off with some very bizarre drama, as the whole world watched in morbid fascination as families in Glasgow were ripped off with a haphazard production of a Willy Wonka experience.

And then, the internet was collectively obsessed, and a hunt to find the stars at the centre of it all began.

The clips went everywhere and the memes were born, with thousands of social media users obsessed with the chaos, and finally discovering who was behind it all – with the organisers behind the project having the police called on them.

Eventually, the actors involved in the production were brought on national television – taking a seat on the Good Morning Britain sofa like hundreds of A-listers before them, as they reached new heights on fame.

The anonymous star of the show, The Unknown, even released a ‘face reveal’, which has amassed more than two millions views on TikTok.

It even took over Hollywood, with Chrissy Teigen calling for the infamous Oompa Loompa to start a Cameo.

If there was anything to kick off the year and bring the world together, it was utter shock at the shambles that went on.

Now there’s a film about all the drama – or rather, loosely based on some of the characters – set to be released this year.

Kaledonia Pictures told Bloody Disgusting they are hoping for a late 2024 release for their film The Unknown, which follows ‘a renowned illustrator and his wife who are haunted by the tragic death of their son, Charlie.’

‘Desperate to escape their grief, the couple leave the world behind for the remote Scottish Highlands – where an unknowable evil awaits them.’

Right, okay. Our opinions about that aside, it’s got us thinking about, should the actual production be turned into a film and who would absolutely smash the roles.

Casting directors, take note of the below…

Willy Wonka

Paul Connell, who played the part of Wonka at Glasgow Wonka experience
Who could play the titular character of the Glasgow Wonka Experience? (Picture: Paul Connell / SWNS)

Actor Paul Connell got his big break in a surprising way – playing Wonka in the farce that was the Glasgow experience.

But it’s brought him international attention, and there could be a feature film on the way – but who would take on his role?

Ncuti Gatwa

Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor in the Doctor Who Christmas special 2023
Ncuti is already in Doctor Who, he could easily take on another British institution: the Glasgow Wonka experience (Picture: BBC/Bad Wolf/Nwaka Okparaeke)

Ncuti has already proved himself as a brilliantly barmy Doctor, and if anyone can save the ’15 pages of AI gibberish’ the Glasgow Wonka experience came up with, it’s him.

Charlie Day, but in character as Charlie Kelly from It’s Always Sunny

Charlie Day as the Day Man in Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It would be meta, but if we had Charlie Day playing Charlie Kelly playing the Day Man playing Wonka, we think that’s Oscar-worthy (Picture: FX)

The shambolic experience was already compared to something you’d see in an episode of Always Sunny, they may as well lean into it. And yes, he has to wear the Day Man costume.

James Corden

James Corden
Imagine James Cordon singing the terrifying Tunnel Song from the 1970s film (Picture: Getty Images for Annabel’s)

Dress James in a top hat and cane, make him a little bit evil, and give him so many musical numbers. It’s a horror movie, after all.

Sad Oompa Loompa

Kirsty Paterson in character as an Oompa Loompa at the Glasgow Wonka experience
Who could play the character behind one of the most iconic photos of the project? (Picture: ITV)

For a lot of people, their first introduction to the horror that was the £45 Willy Wonka Glasgow experience was of Kirsty Paterson, in what was dubbed the Oompa Loompa Meth Lab. Which stars could accurately portray the defeat in her spirit?

Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh at the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences 2022
Imagine Florence’s acting skills with the unbelievably bizarre story about the Glasgow experience (Picture: Getty Images)

Oscar-nominee Florence would be the perfect choice for the Sad Oompa Loompa – just imagine the iconic Midsommar frown in this context.

Karen Gillan

Karen Gillan at the premiere Of Sony Pictures'
Karen Gillan has to be among the first in the running if a film is made, just because she wants it so much (Picture: FilmMagic,)

Doctor Who and Marvel star Karen literally announced that if a movie was ever made about this shambles, she wanted to be involved. Plus, she’s proven she has no trouble shaving her head or wearing mad makeup for a role.

Hugh Grant

Hugh Grant looking less than happy on the Wonka press tour
Hugh Grant visibly hated every minute of the last Wonka press tour and he had that beaten-down look perfected (Picture: Diverto cinema

Hugh played an Oompa Loompa in 2023’s Wonka epic musical – and by his own admission, hated every minute of it. We’d love to see him do it again.

Other Oompa Loompa

Jenny Fogarty in her Oompa Loompa costume for the Willie Wonka Glasgow experience
There was a second Oompa Loompa in the mix in Glasgow (Picture: Jenny Fogarty / SWNS)

While she didn’t go as viral as the downtrodden Oompa Loompa, the second Oompa Loompa played by Irish actress Jenny Fogarty is just as crucial to the Glasgow Wonka experience and, we hope, to the upcoming movie. But who could play her character?

Sheridan Smith

Sheridan Smith at the Olivier Awards 2023 - Arrivals
We can see Sheridan in a green wig (Picture: Getty Images)

Not just hopping on the meme bandwagon that Sheridan Smith always gets a role in British dramas – we can see it, and you can too.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan at
Surely Lindsay will take advantage of being back in the film business (Picture: WireImage)

She’s making her comeback to movies and she may as well do it right, with a cheesy romcom, followed by a cheesy romcom, followed by a cheesy horror.

Daisy May Cooper

Daisy May Cooper turning green after expired fake tan
Daisy’s mishap with expired tan could get her the role of a lifetime (Picture: daisymaycooper)

Okay, this is mostly because of her unfortunate experience with expired self-tan. But we think it would work.

The Unknown

The Unknown at Glasgow WIllie Wonka experience
The Unknown is by far the favourite breakthrough character of the whole wild predicament (Picture:Facebook / Maryanne Mccormack)

Doug Jones

Doug Jones at 90th Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals
It’s honestly surprising Doug Jones hasn’t already played a character who hides in the wales (Picture: WireImage)

Doug has played plenty of iconic monsters and this could be his next big role: from the Pale Man in Pan’s Labyrinth to Amphibian Man in The Shape of Water to The Unknown in the Glasgow Shambles – what a career.

Claudia Winkleman

Claudia WInkleman in The Traitors
We’ve really enjoyed seeing Claudia explore her dark side on The Traitors (Picture: BBC/David Emery)

She’s got the dark hair, she’s no stranger to gliding around in a cloak, and she can up the tension with just a few words – The Traitors star Claudia has got to be in the running.

Tiffany Pollard

Tiffany Pollard on Celebrity Big Brother
Pictures you can hear: Tiffany Pollard could bring her dramatics to the big screen as The Unknown (Picture: Big Brother UK / Youtube)

We know from her time on Celebrity Big Brother that Tiffany Pollard can command a room (to absolutely disastrous effect) – and her David’s Dead mixup was one of the biggest viral videos of all time – until The Unknown came along.

The Unknown

Aka 16-year-old Felicia, who played the now-iconic character in the original Glasgow… is production the right word?

The Unknown became an iconic character because of her acting in those few tiny second clips – why mess with perfection?

Give her the role.

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MORE : Man behind the ‘Willy Wonka Experience’ fiasco cancels ‘dream wedding’

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