- NOTE: This article is on only Arthur Slugworth's character in the original book and the 2005 film as those are the only works he appears in that depict him as evil. It does not count the versions of the 1971 film and the Tom & Jerry parody, because it is not the real Slugworth. For his appearance in Wonka, see here.
| “ | And then Mr. Slugworth's factory began making sugar balloons that you could blow up to huge sizes before you popped them with a pin and gobbled them up. | „ |
| ~ Grandpa Joe describing Slugworth stealing Wonka's business. |
Arthur Slugworth is the main antagonist of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory franchise. He is the head of a chocolate making company. After becoming jealous of Wonka, he decided to hire spies to help him steal his competitor's recipes.
In the 2005 film adaptation, he was portrayed by Philip Philmar. In the 2023 film Wonka, he was portrayed by Paterson Joseph, who also played Kamal Hadley in the Noughts & Crosses television series.
Personality[]
In the 2005 film, he is completely antagonistic, with zero redeeming qualities. In this version, he is portrayed as one of Willy Wonka’s rivals, jealous of Wonka’s success to the point of sending in spies to steal his recipes. He is shown not only to be greedy, but also evil, as evidenced by his sinister grin when follow rival candy maker Prodnose hands him a recipe card. He may also have a sadistic sense of humor, as shown when he smiles at a young boy whose candy balloon popped in his face.
Physical appearance[]
In the 2005 version, he is a middle-aged man, with balding hair and crooked teeth.
Appearances[]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory[]
In the original novel, Arthur Slugworth is first mentioned to have developed a type of gum that could be blown to incredible sized before it popped. He is mentioned twice more, again talking about his thievery, but Slugworth and his two spies (Prodnose and Fickelgruber) were never to be seen or heard again.
2005 Film[]
Slugworth only makes a split second appearance in Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He is shown in two of Grandpa Joe’s flashbacks depicting Willy Wonka’s rise to fame from a single store on Cherry Street to the amazing fifty times bigger than any other chocolate factory, described as the worst of Wonka’s rivals. He receives a secret recipe from fellow envious candymaker Prodnose. Slugworth was the last thief to steal from Wonka before he shut his doors to all everyday worker of the factory and closed it for fifteen years. He, Fickelgruber and Prodnose are never heard of again.
Wonka[]
- Main article: Arthur Slugworth (Wonka)
Trivia[]
- In the 2005 film version, the character seen is the real Slugworth himself, but in the 1971 and 2017 (Tom & Jerry special) versions, he is later revealed to be Willy Wonka's trusty employee Mr. Wilkinson, who pretended to be Slugworth and steal the formula in order to test Charlie Bucket; Charlie passes the test, as Wilkinson was only helping Wonka find an heir (who is revealed to be none other than Charlie himself, the last remaining child/winner who has not been eliminated from the factory tour).
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 Villains
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