At 22 years old, Rusty was the youngest of the Oompa-Loompas when he starred in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. He always believed he’d hung up the green wig for good. But then, 55 years later, he received a call to lead a new generation of Oompa-Loompas — this time with his son, Ben, by his side. “To be back here with with my son is absolutely mind-blowing. I love it,” Rusty says. “I’m really so proud to work with him, and it’s a true full-circle moment.” 

There was another nice bit of cinematic symmetry. “On our first day of filming this year, it was Rusty’s birthday,” says Harkin. “Fifty-five years ago, he celebrated his birthday on the set of the 1971 movie, and it was his first movie role — so Wonka’s The Golden Ticket is just such a beautiful bookend.”

Stepping back into Wonka’s world has brought plenty of old memories to the surface. “Dad had a tear in his eye when he first saw the factory,” Ben recalls. Of course, much has also changed to fit the world of the reality competition. “For the movie, the chocolate river was colored water with real cream and sugar. People were throwing their cigarette ends in it, and it got really horrible,” says Rusty. “We’ve still got the waterfall and the chocolate river, but it’s so much better.”

Growing up with an original Oompa-Loompa as a father made for quite a magical childhood. “I used to watch the film all the time,” Ben says. “I could probably say Willy Wonka before my ABCs.” Plus, he got some private lessons before even stepping on set. “I learned the dance many years ago.” Still, Ben never believed he’d follow in his dad’s footsteps and become an Oompa-Loompa himself. Witnessing the factory together for the first time was a “truly special” moment for the father and son. 

Ben, of course, knew the expectations for his performance were high, describing some moments as “a little bit nerve-wracking.” Of course, his dad was always there with some advice. “He gives me notes all the time,” Ben says. “I have that pressure to deal with as well, but it's an absolute joy.” Ben was happy to join the ranks with of the new group, while still honoring the legacy of the original characters. “It’s great to see that we have more diversity and inclusivity with our Oompa-Loompas,” he adds. “But the mystery surrounding them — and the haunting melody of their song — are still there.”

Standing at 6-foot-8, Mitchell likes to describe themselves as the “tallest Oompa that’s ever Loompa’d.” Despite their stature, the Brisbane, Australia–based filmmaker, actor, and DJ felt a connection with the iconic character from a young age. “I’ve always known, deep down inside, I am an Oompa Loompa, so staying in character wasn’t really a problem for me.” Transforming into their character is Mitchell’s favorite memory from the experience.” Every moment spent in the makeup chair was a pure delight,” they say. Lastly, Mitchell has a warning for all those who might take issue with the Oompa-Loompas’ at times admittedly sour attitude. “We’re not as sassy as we appear. We’re much, much worse!”

The Perth, Australia–based actor and self-described “4-foot-5 baddie” was excited to bring her confidence and individuality to the role. “Whatever I lose in stature, I make up for in personality,” she tells Tudum. “We are just as sassy when we are not in character and have big personalities.” Wonka’s The Golden Ticket is Tiffany’s first-ever acting role, and she was cast after being discovered on TikTok. But no amount of social media dance challenges could’ve prepared her for the demands of Oompa-Loompa life. “There were rehearsals for dancing and singing,” she says. “We never backed down or gave up and kept practicing until it was perfect.”

Curiosity got the best of Beccy in the Chocolate Factory. Not only did she indulge in some ill-advised candy cravings, but she also took an unexpected dip. “The set was so realistic, I bit into a jelly bean that was not real,” she says. “Then the chocolate river looked so real, and unfortunately I accidentally fell in.” Of course, Beccy managed to get out unscathed and back to the business of being an Oompa-Loompa. “Every day was so much fun working in the garden, dancing with my fellow Oompas, and entertaining the contestants.” She was glad to be included in this version of the Wonka story, adding, “Oompa Loompas are fictional characters and can be a diverse group — no matter how short or tall.”

The magician, actor, and content creator is no stranger to a bit of whimsy, regularly sharing his magic tips and tricks with his millions of followers across social media. But nothing could’ve prepared him for the wondrous world of Wonka. “Seeing the factory for the first time was my favorite memory,” he says. “And learning the Oompa song is way harder than people think.” To get into character, Ash says he ate plenty of chocolate and fine-tuned his improv skills — anything can happen in the factory after all. The experience left him with a new group of friends and something to remember his alter ego. “I’m still finding orange paint on me to this day.”

As the self-appointed “Oompa of sass,” Dane channeled his inner Beyoncé to live out his full Wonka fantasy. The actor and filmmaker grew close to his fellow Oompa-Loompas after long days on set. “There was a lot of friendship, laughter, and mischief between takes,” he says. “We really became our own Oompa family.” But Dane had to “perfect his resting bitch face” to keep it together in front of the contestants. “Once we finally met properly, we couldn’t stop laughing about how completely different we were,” he adds. An advocate for queer and disabled communities, Dane recently released his first film “celebrating love, connection, and the life that’s possible when we look beyond assumptions and limitations.”

A former bodybuilder and all around fitness enthusiast, Daniel is certainly the swolest of the bunch. “The contestants kept telling me, ‘You look like Dwayne Johnson,’” he says. All that time in the gym served him well, as his “discipline mindset and real determination” helped him transform into his Oompa-Loompa alter ego. Still, nothing could’ve prepared Daniel for the first time he went onto the set of Wonka’s The Golden Ticket. “There’s a real magic to actually being in the Chocolate Factory,” he says. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be an Oompa-Loompa.”

For Alivia, getting Oompa-fied was all about “stepping out of [her] comfort zone.” Luckily, Alivia says the “incredible hair and makeup” team (plus dance rehearsals with expert teachers) helped her transform into the character. And, as anyone can see from the photo above, she’s clearly made her mark. Bringing Oompa-Loompas to a new generation of fans is an experience Alivia says she’ll “cherish forever,” and it’s one she doesn’t take lightly. “We all respect these characters so much and feel so privileged to be a part of this cast.”