Jackass star Jason Acuña criticises Hugh Grant's role as Oompa Loompa in Wonka
Jackass star Wee Man, real name Jason Acuña, blasted the decision to cast Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa in the upcoming Wonka movie. Hugh plays one of the green-haired orange characters at Willy Wonka's chocolate factory.
In the new trailer for the latest version of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a digitally-altered version of Hugh was seen talking to leading man Timothée Chalamet.
Jason, who has dwarfism, hit out at the actor being cast as the Oompa Loompa in a recent TikTok video. "So I guess Hugh Grant, you’re now identifying as a little person. Interesting, wow," the 50-year-old said.
He also took to Instagram to say that the Oompa Loompas from the previous two movies, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, had "been played by dwarves but this time round they have decided to take work away from us”.
Hugh Grant plays an Oompa Loompa in the new Wonka movie (Warner Bros)
Jason Acuña, aka Wee Man, criticised the casting decision (PA)Jason wasn't the only person to hit out at the Wonka casting as George Coppen, who is known for his role in Willow, opened up about actors with dwarfism being "pushed out" of the entertainment business.
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He used Wonka as an example but also touched base on The Hobbit trilogy - which also digitally altered famous actors for the role. "A lot of actors [with dwarfism] feel like we are being pushed out of the industry we love," he said.
"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. One door is being closed but they have forgotten to open the next one."
Wonka, which is directed by Paddington's Paul King, follows the early life of Willy Wonka (Warner Bros)Wonka, which is directed by Paddington's Paul King, follows the early life of Willy Wonka and how he came to be. The Roald Dahl-inspired prequel also stars Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Coleman, Keegan Michael-Key, Paterson Joseph and Matt Lucas.
In the preview for the fantasy movie, which hits cinemas in December, Wonka can be shown on a mission to set up his chocolate factory in the face of multiple adversities and setbacks. The teaser ends with the young entrepreneur proclaiming, "Mark my words, this is going to be the greatest chocolate shop the world has ever seen" before the scene switches to him meeting an Oompa Loompa, played by Hugh Grant, for the first time.
In the clip, the 62-year-old actor is painted orange and wearing a green wig to reflect the eccentric look of the factory's fictional workers. "So you're the funny little man who's been following me," Wonka says accusingly, to which Grant's character replies, "I will have you know that I am a perfectly respectable size for an Oompa Loompa."
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