Los Angeles, Feb 13 (IANS): "Paddington" director Paul King is in talks to direct a reboot of "Willy Wonka", based on Roald Dahl's 1964 children's novel "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".

King is in final negotiations to direct the movie, being developed by Warner Bros, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

King would be reunited with David Heyman, the producer of the two "Paddington" movies.

Wonka is the fictional infamous and eccentric owner of a chocolate factory who figured prominently in Dahl's 1964 book and its follow-up, "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator".

He was also the caretaker of the Oompa-Loompas, the short humans whom Wonka saved from enemies in Loompaland and now make his candies. The Wonka character became so indelible in culture that the 1971 film adaptation of the book was titled "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory".

Gene Wilder portrayed the character in the original movie, while Hollywood star Johnny Depp played the role in the 2005 adaptation.