So we got Tim Burton directing, always awesome for these sort of things.
But, I have to say, I’m not sure I can see Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. I’m sure the performance will be brilliant, but I just have those initial doubts.
My first thought on who would make an awesome Willy Wonka would be Kevin Klein.
What are they going to do with the Oompas in this movie? CG? Or should they go back to the dwarfs?
Thoughts?
Is it true this one won’t be a musical?
I think the fact that the kids cast so far are “unknowns” (or at least unknown that a semi-in-the-know schmo like me doesn’t know them).
Hard to replace Gene Wilder, tho. He IS Willy Wonka.
Will there be singing? Does Depp sing?
The kid playing Charlie is a cutie-pie. Looks a little younger than the original guy, tho.
The kid playing Agustus Gloop is NOT from Germany!!! Christ!! Did you see the DVD extras for the original Willy Wonka? That guy still looks, acts and talks like his 12-year-old character. I believe he was wearing lederhosen, too.
I hope it’s not all full of computer special effects. I don’t know why. I guess the only REASON to re-make Willy Wonka is to spice it up with alot of computer effects. But I am just so sick of CG right now… 
It’s such a great story, tho. Kids can learn alot from it. Unless they identify with one of the kids who get “killed off” and Veruca Salt becomes the nasty hot star of the summer. Ugh.
I’m rather relieved it is no longer going to be Marilyn Manson as Wonka, reading the past thread brought that horribly terrifying thought to mind.
I said it before and I’ll say it again; this is the perfect movie for Burton.
Love Tim Burton as the director.
Love Johnny Depp but not for this role.
A friend suggested that Christopher Walken would be great for this part. The more I think about it the more I like the idea.
I’ll give Depp a chance. Who knows, it might be a nice surprise.
Do you suppose they’ll start putting golden tickets in the chocolate bars before the movie comes out?
I’ve got a fevah, and the only prescription is … MORE EVERLASTING GOBSTOPPERS!
I love the idea of Burton and Depp doing this movie. I’ve not read the book but the original had its own underlying creepiness to it and who better to draw that out and give it a fresh spin than the master of dark cinema?
If almost any other combination of actor and director were involved in this movie, I’d consider it blasphemous, but the idea of Johnny Depp being directed by Tim Burton in this role intrigues me. I don’t think it can beat the Gene Wilder version, but I think it has potential.
I’m with you on your first and last points, Bill H. But point 2 is where we part company. I liked the fact that everyone (except Augustus Gloop, of course) was given one last shot at redemption. I’m not sure whether such a subtext was intended by David Wolper (the producer), but I will note that Dahl wrote the Fizzy Lifting Drinks scene into the screenplay, whether on his own, or at the behest of Wolper.
I believe Tim Burton can make magic happen with this story, using little or no CGI.
As to whether its a musical, I rather hope that Burton makes it a Tim Burton musical. I feel that 30-50% of the Newly-Bricusse songs are disposable. Give Mr. Burton his preferred musical partner in crime, though, and something strange and wonderful could burst forth.
Paging Danny Elfman.
I am SO excited about this movie.
This was my favorite book as a child. I recently bought an old copy of it–and The Great Glass Elevator–off ebay (because I like the drawings in the originals better than the ones in the bookstore now).
Tim Burton is my favorite director. I was wishing this movie would be made and would be directed by Burton even before I knew it actually was going to happen.
It is not a remake of the Willy Wonka movie–it is supposed to follow the book more closely and it will use the book’s title, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I hope it’s not a musical.
I hear there are going to be [book spoiler] squirrels!!!
And I’ve read that Marylin Manson was NEVER considered for the role of Willy Wonka. That was apparently just a bizarre rumor that took off and was often repeated on the internet and in some magazines. I was INCREDIBLY happy when I heard that it wasn’t true.
If it’s like most Burton films, then it WILL feature…
stop-motion animation…
Yay *!
I’m looking forward to it, and I do hope it isn’t a musical…
is there any chance this movie will be based on both the Chocolate Factory and Glass Elevator books? I mean, they are both rather short.
*If they do use CGI, then I vote they should just use CGI to clone that loveable Oompa-Loompa-sized frequent-Burton-Collaborator Danny DeVito!
One of my roommates suggested this as well, and I could just see him walking through the factory and when Gloop falls in the chocolate, he goes off on one of his long soliloquys. He wouldn’t be a zany Willy Wonka, he’d be a Christopher Walken Willy Wonka.
I think Depp can pull it off. Tim Burton is a great art director, but by his own admission “wouldn’t know a good script if it bit me on the face”. So I hope a good script is what they’ve got.
I seriously hope this is non-musical, and as dark as the book. And I effin’ hate Danny Elfman. He and John Williams are both hacks; why do they get most of the composer money in Hollywood between them?
Well, they’ve already started the commercial tie-ins. I saw a candy advertisment over the weekend for an Everlasting Gobstopper that also suggested that a trip to “wonka.com” would be in order.
Maybe I’m misunderstanding, but you DO know that the Everlasting Gobstopper candy has been around for at least 10 to 15 years, don’t you? Along with Nerds, Runts, and assorted other candies under the “Wonka” brand.
I think they should leave well enough alone. The original was a classic! Why remake it? They’ll only spoil it for a whole new generation of kids!