Can’t they just leave a classic alone.
And what about the also ran Wonkas listed - Christopher Walken, Michael Keaton and Paul Reubens? What kind of Wonkas would they have made? Gene Wilder was wonderful, but was he true to the darker side of the book? Would Depp really make a better Wonka?
I agree that they should just leavea classic alone. While Paul Reubens would make an excellent Wonka, in my opinion, better than the monotone (and terrifying i might add) Walken, and maybe better than Michael Keaton, no parent is going to take their chid to see it, primarily becuase it’s “Pee Wee” and well we all know how dirty he is.
And before when I also heard this rumor, and I heard Johnny Depp as Wonka and even rumor of Ewan McGregor as Wonka I was a little disheartened… But, after seeing Depp’s stellar performance in Pirates of the Carribbean, I have no doubt in my head, that it would be a genius role for him. Ewan McGregor really bothers me, and his singing voice makes me want to stab and scoop my eyes out with sporks. But I think Johnny Depp would make a fine Wonka, if they were to remake the movie. I’m more concerned about who would play Charlie, and Granpa Joe. Those performances aren’t easy to come by.
As much as I hate the fact that they are going to remake a classic I am glad that it is not with Marilyn Manson as Wonka. I heard that rumor a few years ago and was absolutley appauled.
I have a feeling this will be quite different than the Mel Stuart/Gene Wilder verson.
Yes, there are many worrisome aspects to this news. Now, I consider myself a Willy Wonka/Gene Wilder movie fan, and a Depp fan, so I will give it a chance, wary tho I may be.
The most interesting comments I have read on this topic (sorry I don’t have reference) were that the new movie will not be a remake of the Gene Wilder movie, but more a readaptation of the original book. The author didn’t like the musical and his estate seems happy with Burton and his choices.
The silliest comment I’ve read so far said Depp is too young for the part. I know he doesn’t look it, but he is 40. Wonder how old Wilder when he played in his version.
IIRC, in the book Willy Wonka is getting on in years and that’s why he is looking for someone to take over the chocolate factory for him. So it’s not silly at all to say that a 40-year-old Depp is too young for the part, if you are expecting an adaptation that is more “true” to the book. That said, I like Depp and I think he could pull it off.
I think this sounds wonderful. It sounds like the movie that Burton was born to make, and it was only a cruel twist of time that he wasn’t around to make the first version.
I feel sorry for you people who apparently are forced to see movies against your will, and wish this weren’t being made. Have you tried informing the police of your situation? 
Depp could be great, Walken would have been even better (especially if teh new version is also a musical!).
I’d love to see the book reinterpreted as a near-horror story. It’s not like the original will vanish. Burton’s perfectky for the job. Just the right mix of the horrific and grotesque and whimsy.
Yeah, some classics pretty much can’t be improved (whatever happened to the rumors of a Bennifer remake of Casablanca), but others can be reinterpreted from time to time, or would you never see another production of Hamlet?
Burton could potentially do a great job with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or he could botch it. If his recent “re-interpretations” are any indicator (Sleepy Hollow and Planet of the Apes), then his take on Wonka will likely be horrid. If Burton can find his center again, and recapture the vision which made Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood so good, then he might just pull this one off.
Honestly, I haven’t enjoyed a new Tim Burton movie in years. He seems to have lost whatever he once had. Nevertheless, I’ll see this just because I love the source material so much.
I agree with everything Avalonian said. Just having Depp involved is no guarantee that this won’t be a disaster. Burton makes everything into a cartoon these days.
I have the perfect suggestion for a Wonka who can combine zaniness and childlike spirit with lifelong fixation on one substance and yet is believable as somebody getting along in years:
Ozzie Osbourne. "Oompah loompa oprah de d That ****in oompah loompah just peed on my rug! Bring me the ****in pickax…
Ozzy lurching around in that huge purple hat would be perfect.
“Come with me…Sharon, what’re the f***ing words?”
Okay, I’ll bite – why does the thought of Marilyn Manson as Willy Wonka “appauled” [sic] you? Is it because of his poor acting skills, or just reflexive “Marilyn Manson is icky” fears?
(I’m not a Manson fan, I’m just curious if he’s getting villified unfairly here)
It would certainly make the boat-ride scene interesting…
"Scooch closer, children. “Don’t make me tell you again about the schooching.”
Sampiro - in a wierd example of synergism (hope that’s the right word) I read on IMDB that Johnny Depp is interested in doing a biopic of Ozzy Osborne. (Hopefully, that will come to naught.)
I think Robert Downey Jr would be way better, then again there are those problems with him.
I applaud the decision to re-do Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I typically abhor remaking movies… however, CATCF is a BOOK. The '70s version was an adaptation of the book, interpreted by the writer and/or director from the original source material. Tim Burton will just be re-interpreting the source material, not the original movie.
Further, I hope that Burton goes “all the way” and does CATCF as well as The Great Glass Elevator. That book is right up his alley.
Hey I liked Sleepy Hollow!
How dirty is he? Because he made a mistake and got caught doing what most American males do? Because he got caught by a policeman who had nothing better to do than to raid a porno theatre? In light of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, or even the OJ Simpson Trial, what Reubans did wasn’t that big of a deal.
Sorry about that, but I felt I had to defend him. 
As for the OP, I would love to see Depp as Wonka. Even though Wonka’s part is important, I am wondering who will play Charlie. After all, it is called Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The new Veruca Salt will be hard to replace, though. “Make them work nights!”
I don’t get why remaking old movies bothers people so much. There are two possible out comes to this movie: it’ll be worse than the original, or it’ll be better. If it’s better, then Yay! there’s a great new movie in the world for everyone to enjoy. And if it’s worse, then so what? It’s not like they’re going to burn all the copies of the original once the new one is finished.
I want see a western with Paul Rubens and George Michael. Whatever shall they call it? Hmmm…