Unless you were living under a rock last week, you probably caught the story about the disastrous Willy Wonka-themed family event that occurred in Glasgow, Scotland. Ads for the event, all of which were generated by janky A.I., seemed to promise a veritable wonderland of candy-colored delights, an unforgettable journey into the magical heart of the Willy Wonka mythos that would entertain children of all ages. Patrons arrived to discover a shabby warehouse barely decked out in Wonka decor, a depressed Oompa Loompa handing out loose jelly beans, and - most inexplicably - something (or someone) called The Unknown.
Summoned forth from behind a cheap mirror by the event's ersatz version of Willy Wonka, The Unknown terrified children while deeply confusing the adults who'd brought them there. What the fuck was "The Unknown?" What did this have to do with Willy Wonka? Why did anyone think it was a good idea to have a character that looks like Buckethead + The Grim Reaper at an event designed to make children happy? Unlike refunds to the event itself, answers to these questions were not forthcoming.
Well, guess what? According to our pals over at Bloody Disgusting, The Unknown will now serve as the basis for an upcoming horror movie (also called The Unknown) from Kaledonia Pictures, who told the site:
“The film, gearing up for production and a late 2024 release, 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."
They added:
"We are excited to begin production and look forward to sharing more with you as soon as possible. We are actually only a few miles from the event, so it is quite surreal to see Glasgow all over social media, worldwide.”
Kaledonia Pictures has not announced a writer, director or cast members for The Unknown, but has made clear that they intend to have the film completed before year's end. Will people show up for this film, should it hit theaters? Sure, why not? Anything's possible. After all, hundreds of people showed up to Glasgow's Willy Wonka Experience even after seeing its typo-filled, A.I.-generated ads.
Nothing further to report on The Unknown at this time, but we'll keep you informed as further updates roll in.
