New Willy Wonka

[Prophet Tenebrae]

I take it they'll be playing down the mincing paedophile angle of Wonka?

[nobody]

Wonka never had a "mincing paedophile angle." If anything he showed nothing but distain for the children, disappointed in how disgusting and uncivilized they all were.

[Bee beeep]

Hi!! Does anyone know if the film will still remain as a musical or is it purely based on Roal Dahl's book itself?

[Vermin Boy]

That's actually a really good question; it'd be really interesting if Burton ignored the original movie and simply tried a new adaptation of the book. I seem to remember a lot of stuff in the book that wasn't in the movie, though I may be confusing it with bits of the sequel.

[Harry]

how many books were there?

[Steven]

There were originally  2 books by Dahl, IIRC.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

and

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

[Steven]

Full cast (Working, may change)

Directed by
Tim Burton    
 
Writing credits (in alphabetical order)  
John August   screenplay
Roald Dahl   novel

Cast (in credits order)  
Freddie Highmore ....  Charlie Bucket
Johnny Depp ....  Willy Wonka
rest of cast listed alphabetically
Helena Bonham Carter ....  Mrs. Bucket
Ty Dickson ....  Oompa Loompa
James Fox  
Jordan Fry ....  Mike Teavee
David Kelly ....  Grandpa Joe
Christopher Lee  
Missi Pyle ....  Ms. Beauregard
Annasophia Robb ....  Violet Beauregarde
Lance Smith ....  Oompa Loompa
Noah Taylor  
Philip Wiegratz ....  Augustus Gloop
Julia Winter ....  Veruca Salt

[Psycho BoB]

omg you gotta be kidding me JD is gonna be the best wonka ever! did you see his personality in POTC?????? OMG remember wonka as a kinda silly kinda drunk looking guy kinda cruel but lovable and a mystery...he didnt care about the kids being sucked into the tubes but he cared about how he had to clean them! dude if they remake this burton style it will be dark dementid and funny and i think JD is gonna bring the true feeling out of Wonka Himself.

[xBANRAPx18]

I'm not so sure about Johnny Depp being a great Willy Wonka, as no one could ever top Gene Wilder's "calm mad-man" effect, but I bet it'll still be good. There'll be lots of new things and the movie was pretty dark to begin with...

"Yes, the danger must be growing
For the rowers keep on rowing
And they're certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing?

...yeah that's pretty dark. And also

"The suspense is terrible. I hope it lasts."

It'll be different, that's for sure...

[Eirik]

"It's a fun kids' movie, but when you see it again it's creepy from the grandparents to Willie."

The original version showed a chicken getting its head cut off!  You think the ASPCA is going to let Burton get away with something like that?  Flightless birds consider the Wilder version a snuff film.

[BobSagatsBleedingDemocracy]

There is no possible way the remake can top the original. Period.

Gene Wilder is a god. Depp is good, but he just can't compete. I mean, look at Young Frankenstein and Haunted Honeymoon for example - Gene Wilder Gold. The summersault performed at the entrance to the factory was Gene's idea!  Maybe if Depp was 15 years older...and related to Gene....
Plus, they won't have Roy Kinnear! Mr. Salt! He's dead!

I think I read somewhere, correct me if I am wrong, that Burton had never seen the original movie. He read Dahl's book, then saw the movie, and he was actually surprised by how dark it was in comparison to the book.
Mel Stuart even didn't let most of the cast see the Waterfall Room until they actually shot it - brilliant.

Let's just hope that they don't kill the original.

[muffin]

Who do you think you are?!  I don't know where you were raised, but Johnny Depp can pull off any role he decides to take on.  I can not wait to see this movie.  The book and previous movie starring Gene Wilder was awesome, and JD will only add flavor to this wonderful story.

[muffin]

Who do you think you are?!  I don't know where you were raised, but Johnny Depp can pull off any role he decides to take on.  I can not wait to see this movie.  The book and previous movie starring Gene Wilder was awesome, and JD will only add flavor to this wonderful story.

[Acidburn]

I would have to agree with you muffin.  Depp is one of the best character actors out  there right now.  I believe this movies has the making to be wonderful and dark.  I cannot wait to see it.

[ssouce]

Does anyone realize that this was a book before it was a crappy movie in the 1970s?  The movie is based on the wonderful book-NOT a remake of the horrible movie which chagned the whole story around to make Wonka come off as a lying bastard.  Read the book: the story is so much more creative and never needed to be changed!