Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka?

[KrnB]

From Yahoo:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=794&ncid=799&e=3&u=/eo/20030820/en_movies_eo/12351

As awesome an actor as Johnny Depp is, it's hard to imagine him playing the role better than Gene Wilder. With Tim Burton directing, it's likely to be a lot darker than the first one, and I'm not sure that's a good thing.

 

[nkjzmom]

EWWW!!!! Gene Wilder gave me the creeps in that movie. I can hardly watch it he scares me so badly. I'm interested to see how Burton and Depp will handle it.


What I thought was really interesting is the fact that "Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston" are producing it.



Had to add that I love the colors of your flowers.....

 

[supercarrie]

Although Gene Wilder will always be "the" Willy Wonka to me, I hope Johnny Depp takes this role. He has done so many different characters in the past, and I am sure he could do this one as well. I would be very curious to see it.

 

[SoonerKate]

Hopefully it doesn't turn out to be Fear and Loathing in a Candy Factory.

(As much as I loved PoTC, his Jack Sparrow wasn't that different from Raoul Duke, who he played in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.)

 

[olena]

I heard Chris Walken might play Wonka. How cool would that be?

 

[Minniespal]

IMHO Christopher Walken would make a better Willy Wonka than Johnny Depp.

 

[TIGGERSMOM]

After PoC - Johnny Depp can do anything he wants and I know I'll go see it.

 

[Lanshark]

I love the original Willy Wonka but think Christopher Walken or Johnny Depp would make excellent choices. I am definitely not a fan of Tim Burtons though.

 

[FOJMO]

I am a BIG fan of Tim Burton's work, but I absolutely HATE "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"! I love Gene Wilder, but just can't stand that movie!

If they WERE to remake it, though, I'd rather see Christopher Walken in it. He's terrific!

 

[Gette88]

I love that movie. Hope they do a good job with the remake. I think Johnny Depp would do a good job. Never thought of Willy Wonka as sexy before.

 

[Tinkbell]

Originally posted by Gette88
. Never thought of Willy Wonka as sexy before.

Same here! I HATED the original WW. That movie always gave me the creeps. I think Johnny Depp will be awesome, but if they are going for the "creepy" factor, Christopher Walken is the way to go.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Speaking as a Wonkaphile:

Roald Dahl's book are very dark morality tales. Think about it; children going into a chocolate factory and getting sent to the fudge room, juicing room, furnace, or stretching room because they broke the rules. WW is not a kind, grandfatherly figure; he's more of a trickster (Loki, for those of a mythological bent) who's not too concerned about other people in the outside world. I think that Gene Wilder captured that fairly well - that's why he creeps out some people (WW is creepy). In fact, why did he pick Charley? So he could have Charley run things just the way WW wanted!

Walken would do a good job; his malignant indifference would be great. Keaton would be a little to buffoony; I'd never be able to forget Beetlejuice. Depp would bring seriousness and intensity to the role - I'd hope he'd be more 'Ed Scissorhands' and less 'Ed Wood'.

Oh, and I do want a boat like that!

 

[annamonte]

I love Willy Wonka!

(who good forget "I want an Oompa Loompa Now Daddy!")

Anyway, I always thought that Robin Williams would make a great WW, just needs a little more make-up... but he is definately quirky enough!

 

[MosMom]

Nobody could beat Gene Wilder as WW. What an awesome movie! I love it love it love it! We just taped it on TIVO the other day and I watched it with Mosey. It doesn't even need to be remade. Oh well!

 

[KrnB]

Originally posted by annamonte
Anyway, I always thought that Robin Williams would make a great WW, just needs a little more make-up... but he is definately quirky enough!

He WOULD be good. He can play the edgy, dark character with that crazy sense of humor.

I think Christopher Walken would be good too.

Johnny Depp is just too good looking. He's an incredible actor and could make the character his own, I just think the others would be a better immediate fit.

The part I always liked about the original was that it has a layer of sillyness that was just enough to keep it from being too creepy. A candy coating of sorts. It was a movie that kids could enjoy without being too scared (except maybe for the boat in the tunnel part) because the creepiness was somewhat hidden. My fear is that Tim Burton would take too much of that "candy coating" away.

 

[alabamaalan]

My thought exactly!

I have never read the book but watch the movie on a regular basis since my daughter loves the video.

I think that Gene Wilder was superb!

 

[Planogirl]

Did anyone see Sleepy Hollow? Johnny Depp can definitely play a dark character with a comical side.

Chocolate and Johnny Depp? I'm there!

 

[GladysK]

I vote for Christopher Walken....much scarier.

This was my sons's FAVORITE movie growing up....I saw it a gazillion times.

 

[nsyncraider17]

I HATE Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! It's my least favorite movie ever! But, if Johnny Depp were to star in it, I might have to see that version.

 

[DrTomorrow]

A good point has come up from some of the comments: If Tim Burton is directing, and someone like Walken/Depp will star, exactly what age group would be targeted?

WWATCF (I'm on DIS, I can acronymify anything!) was pretty tame; as a kid, I thought that the tinker in the beginning ("No one ever goes in, no one ever comes out") was creepier than the Wonkatania ride. But KrnB is right - there was a lightheartedness that kept things from being too menacing for kids.

But do you folks thing that a WW remake would still be G and be light and fluffy, or would it be more darkly PG-13, pulling in the Indiana Jones & Temple of Doom crowd, but not suitable for, say a 8 year old?