Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-do, I’ve got another scandal for you.
Hugh Grant’s casting as an Oompa Loompa in the Timothée Chalamet-led film “Wonka” has sparked controversy among actors with dwarfism, reports the BBC.
George Coppen, who has dwarfism, slammed the “Notting Hill” star’s casting.
He claimed that an actor who actually has dwarfism should have been cast and that those who have the genetic condition are “being pushed out of the industry we love.”
“A lot of people, myself included, argue that dwarfs should be offered everyday roles in dramas and soaps, but we aren’t getting offered those roles,” said Coppen, 26. “One door is being closed but they have forgotten to open the next one.”
Coppen has starred in several films such as “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,” “The NeverEnding Story” and recently Disney Plus’ “Willow” series.
Dwarfism “is generally defined as an adult height of 4 feet 10 inches or less” that can be caused by numerous conditions, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“Wonka” tells the story of how the famous Chocolatier (Chalamet) got his start and how he met the Oompa Loompas, who later came to work for him.
In the trailer for the film, Grant, 62, can be seen in a glass jar wearing the bright orange makeup and green wig that was made famous in the 1971 “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” starring the late Gene Wilder.
“So you’re the funny little man who’s been following me,” Wonka can heard asking Grant.
“I will have you know that I am a perfectly respectable size for an Oompa-Loompa,” responds Grant.
According to Coppen, Grant’s proportions in the film are also off.
“They’ve enlarged his head so his head looks bigger,” said Coppen. ” “[I thought] what the h–l have you done to him?”
Grant and the film’s director Paul King did not respond to a request for comment.
Coppen is not the first actor with dwarfism to complain about the Oompa Loompa’s portrayal.
Earlier this month, actor Dylan Postl also slammed the casting of the “Love Actually” star.
“These roles — roles in Hollywood in general — are very hard for people of my community to get, besides the elf and the leprechaun,” Postl, 37, said during an interview with Piers Morgan. “So why are they being taken from my community?”
The history of the Oompa Loompas have also been mired in controversy.
In the first edition of the source material — Roald Dahl’s 1964 children’s novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” — the workers were thought of as black African pygmies.
The characters were rewritten in 1973 to have fair skin as the original depiction was slammed for having undertones of slavery.
In the iconic Gene Gilder version of “Willy Wonka,” directed by Mel Suart, the characters were given orange skin and bright green hair and were actually portrayed by those with dwarfism.
In the 2005 remake starring Johnny Depp, the Oompa Loompas were portrayed by Kenyan and British actor Deep Roy, who was digitally multiplied in order to fulfill the role.
“Wonka” is set to dance its way into theaters on December 15 2023.