Tim Burton takes on Wonka.
 

When searching online for a Pic of Willy Wonka to use for my Avatar, I stumbled across this beautiful piece of news:

http://www.empireonline.co.uk/news/news.asp?4761

After searching high and low for a director to take on their remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Warner Bros is in the process of snapping up Tim Burton to breathe his special brand of magic into the project.

Having been rumoured as attached to the project as far back as 2001, Burton has now been officially named as the man to give Roald Dahl's classic its second stab at the screen and we can't think of a better choice. Master of the surrealist fairy tale, Burton has just what it takes to supplant Mel Stuart's 1971 take on the subject using the kind of enchanting touch that made Edward Scissorhands so thoroughly bewitching.

Getting this non-pollutionary, anti-institutionary, pro-confectionery factory of fun off the ground has proved a little tricky the second time around with Roald Dahl's estate proving unwilling to sanction a second film after he didn't like the original. However the Dahl estate has now given a big thumbs up to Burton, approving him as the number one choice for the job.

Roll on the Oompa Loompas.

I also read that one of the actors being considered for the role of Wonka was Brent Spiner (Data from Star Trek). I could personally see Johnny Depp in the role.. or..dare we dream, Walken?

From the chatroom:

[21:38:07] Spinach_Indeed - Marylin Manson supposidly wanted to play Wonka. Also up is Bret Spiner of Star Trek fame.
[21:38:17] redravin - walken as willie wonka
[21:38:42] Spinach_Indeed - Walken as Wonka. That is Genuis in the making.
[21:39:31] Juan|XP - that would be badass
[21:39:58] Spleen - ooo, charlie.. Don't.. drink.. the lifty soda./
[21:40:08] Spleen - it would... be bad if... you did
[21:40:21] Spleen - fans. swings... pain
[21:40:35] Spinach_Indeed - Lol. "I'm..giving...YOU..my..CHOCOLATE..fac..tory, Charlie.."
[21:40:46] * Spleen ends his sad attempt at a christopher walken impersonation
[21:41:05] Juan|XP - it's all about "the Prophecy"
[21:41:26] Spleen - oh charlie... you were... PROPH... icized to come... here
[21:41:36] * Spleen really ends it now
[21:45:04] * Spinach_Indeed bakes Spleen a Cake for his Brillant Impersonation.
[21:45:21] * zztzed gives Spleen a pizza trophy.

I like the original movie just fine, even though it strays from the source at several locations. What would really be good, is a movie of the second book, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

Still, another Burton movie is good news, and he's the only guy I'd trust to do the remake.:)

I've never read the book. I guess I should add it to the list.

Ok Burton and Walken not only with this movie be twistedly amusing to watch but can you imagine the hellish boat ride scene? The original freaked out just about everyone I knew as kids.

Burton should just leave a good old movie alone (unlike last time...). There has to be some original movie he can make or something.

Of course, if it had Walken, I would have to see it.

Sorry, going to go against the tide here and ask that Burton go find something else to fuck up completely.

Sure, he did an excellent job with Pee Wee's Big Adventure and the Batman flicks, but Planet of the Apes? What a piece of shit. Not to mention the disaster that was the Superman comeback. Dropping Kevin Smith's script and bringing in Nic Cage as Superman? WTF?

Leave Wonka alone Tim. Go make another great Batman flick (please, wrestle the francise away from Schumacher. Please!) or make somthing on your own like Nightmare Before Christmas, but don't screw around with Wonka. The original is just fine as it is.

Walken would be very cool as Wonka, but I'm partial to Brent Spiner personally - I've always liked him as an actor.

This better be good though - I love the original movie and I'd hate to see a bad remake.

Does this really need to happen?

I mean, don't fuck with a classic. The end. You don't see any morons going around trying to re-do The Wizard of Oz or Citizen Cane. Well not yet.

Well, The orignal book was had alot more darker undertones. Ronald Dahl, the author, hated kids even though he made his livelyhood off of them. When the orginal movie was being drafted, it was orginal called "Wonka's Inferno" since all of the children, except Charlie, are horribly disfigured at the end of the book.

Ronald Dahl's estate actually hated the first movie, thought it was too childish and didn't send across the full nature of the book. I don't believe Tim Burton is actually going to try and remake the movie, It's just a diffrent take on the film.

And as for Him choosing Cage for Superman, everyone reacted the same way when he choose Whats-his-face (I can't remember his name for some reason, it was the fellow from Beetlejuice) for Batman, and now many consider him the best Batman in the films. I trust him. Expectations are high. Please don't disapoint us, Mr. Burton

Michael Keaton

There you go. I knew it was Michael someone. Thumbs up.

I agree that the movie will be better with some of the darkness added back to the story... BUT... there is no way that Warner is going to go with it.

They wany a family friendly film that will appeal to the largest number of people possible. Darkness is not gonna cut it.


That said, I think Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings) would do a kick ass version of the story. Just look at what he did with Heavenly Creatures and Meet the Feebles.

Finally, I love the first movie. Yes it isn't as dark as the book but it still has some wonderfully nasty and odd bits. The trip into the tunnel on the Wonkatania is classic: There's no earthly way of knowing, just who fast were going..."

Add my vote for the Great Glass Elevator

There's no earthly way of knowing
Which direction we are going
There's no knowing where we're rowing
Or which way the river's flowing
Is it raining?
Is it snowing?
Is a hurricane a-blowing?
Not a speck of light is showing
So the danger must be growing
Are the fires of hell a-glowing?
Is the grisly reaper mowing?
Yes, the danger must be growing
Cause the rowers keep on rowing
And they're certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing!

There, got that out of my system. :)

If and when Burton does it I hope he doesn't just remake the film, but goes for the darker, edgier book version.

Also, let's see Gene Wilder in a cameo. How about Grandpa?

YES!

(said in a way only Gene Wilder can say it)

I saw Walken on Broadway.... some James Joyce play... what a pile of ... well he sang.. it was twisted... I think he'd croon a great CandyMan

“Who can take a sunrise
Sprinkle it with dew
Cover it in chocolate and a miracle or two
The candy man
The candy man can!”

oh.. and his dancing .... yes!

I was once told that Marylin Manson and Robin Williams were being considered for the part. I don't know if there is any truth to this or not, but I think Robin Williams would be really good for this part. The man is very talented and could do a lot with this character.

There was a rumor going around that Marylin Manson was going to play Wonka, but Warner Brothers dismissed it saying that they had never even considered him

I think Warner Brothers will give Burton a little leway to steer Charlie to the dark side. The Dahl estate is only going to make the movie if it has dark undertones, and since they're working in conjunction with WB, I would think that Warner Brother's have already OKed this.

Burton has now been officially named as the man to give Roald Dahl's classic its second stab at the screen and we can't think of a better choice. Master of the surrealist fairy tale, Burton has just what it takes to supplant Mel Stuart's 1971 take on the subject using the kind of enchanting touch that made Edward Scissorhands so thoroughly bewitching.

And if they're talking about it on a parrallel to Edward Scissorhands, then it simply must have some darker elements.

I think that Burton doing Wonka will work out brilliantly. I hope everything goes over as planned.

Tim Burton needs to create something original. He has an amazing visual style but...

no...

actual...

creativity.

He creates no stories of his own (save The Nightmare Before Christmas, etc, etc...) and his visual flair does not a good movie make.

Well I just hope he doesn't fuck up. What's with all the big budget remakes lately ? It's like Hollywood has finally thrown up its hands and said "fuck it, we can't come up with any new shit, let's go through every succesfull movie of the past 30 years and redo it with more special effects and less acting".

A remake of Citizen Kane! Now THERE's an idea! :rolleyes:

What is so unique about this movie is the question of it being classified as a childrens movie. Movies like this and Alice in Wonderland are in a zip code of their own.

The images behind them when this is being shouted out, throws it being a kid movie out the window.

Hmm, I really don't know what to think.

I mean this kind of flick is definitely something more suiting to his style (Planet of the Apes was not a good fit for him), but I love the original so much that it would be hard to redo.

Personally, I don't really see Wonka as a children's movie. I'm mean sure on the surface it does... but this movie scared the shit out of me as a kid. I was afraid of Wonka. Thankfully now I'm over it and can appreciate the movie :)

was never really crazy about the original, though gene wilder does make a freaky wonka, which is good. I think tim burton could make more of it, bring in more of a balance of darkness and light that dahl is all about. But please, no robin williams!!!

Totally agreed. My fondness for Robin Williams as an actor is definitely on the wane. I can't think of a single movie since "The Birdcage" that he made that I remotely enjoyed. He's still engaging as hell on the talk shows, though.

Wonka was more of an older gentleman in the book, so maybe the casting director will be leaning in that direction.

I've loved Wonka ever since I was a kid. I even had a Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory candy making kit when I was a little Oompa Loompa.

I happened to catch it on TV again last night. I understand the sentiment about leaving a classic alone, but it's not as if if we still wouldn't have the original. Hey, I thought Planet of the Apes by Burton blew also, but that hasn't detracted from my enjoyment of seeing the original, which, by the way, makes a hell of a DVD set.

i hope this doesn´t happen.

having been disappointed in the extreme by Burtons effort with Planet of the Apes, i can´t see how he can do this classic justice.

i think they should just give the money to charity before they go any further.

I have seen that movie well over a hundred times, no exaggeration either. Wilder was excellent in the role of Wonka. I'm not so sure I like the idea of Burton playing Wonka, but I can definitely see Walken. That man can pull off any role with style and charm.

I can't wait to see what they can do with this movie...especially with today's special effects....and if the story was a little more darker....genious!

After Planet of the Apes I swore that I never see another Burton film again. I fail to see the appeal of this guy. Granted his films look fantastic but he constantly fails to deliver on every other aspect of the film-making process. Seems to me that he's a good art director posing as a film-maker and failing miserably.
I just wish Hollywood would stop handing him such high-profile projects.

His films win Academy Awards and make money. Batman is one of the highest grossing films of all time (25th in the US) with $250 million. And even the much hated Planet of the Apes made $180 million placing it in the top 70.

BTW, Roald Dahl, who wrote Wonka, disliked Wilder's version. For some time, his estate resisted efforts by Warner Bros. to obtain rights to do a remake. They only gave approval when Warners promised Burton would direct.

I have read that the Wonka movie will be called Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. So it may not be a direct remake, which is good. One other tidbit is that Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt will be two of the producers. Hmmm.

I look forward to seeing what he can do with it.

I don't know everyone. Why take a classic flick and redo it. I am so sick and tired of these fucking movies, that they do remakes of. But if they fucking have too; Christopher Walken as Willy Wanka would be fantastic. I just get this feeling that they are going to fuck it up.

Peace.

i think, generally, we can all agree that planet of the apes sucked, and sucked badly, but tim burton has done some very, very good things.

Re: Tim Burton takes on Wonka.
 

Oh Man!!! Walken for Wonka!!!!

hmm following Burton movies... this will be dark and evil.. the umpas will be flesh eating three legged gnomes..

umpa umpa... duba de dee.. if you are wise youll listen to me

umpa umpa.. domi de dezz .. well eat your flesh as soon as we please

I'm excited for this I love Burton. Planet of the Apes was one of the worst things I have ever seen though. I think this project reeked of Burton before he ever even came along. Its dark and childish which is everything Planet of the Apes isn't and everything Tim Burton is best at. I heard about it a year ago when he claimed that he was going to remake it with Marilyn Manson as the lead, and then he said it was just a big joke. Glad to see that he committed to it this time. It will be interesting to say the very least. I though his remake of Sleepy Hollow was pretty interesting and quite creative. Its not my favorite Burton, but its damn good. His best remake to date will always be Batman. What he did for Batman was absolutely incredible and Schumacher pissed all the darkness away to sell more toys. Ah well. Go Wonka. Go Burton.

I was thrilled to see actual Wonka bars at Toys R Us some
time ago. They're actually quite good, although tough to
find (Toys R Us seems to be the only place I see them).
I hope the new film will be darker like the book, no musical
numbers this time, please. Walken would be a great Wonka;
I think he could impart that subtle creepiness better than
anyone else mentioned for the role.
I'm excited to see what modern special effects could do with
the Chocolate factory, but I hope they won't use CGI Oopma
Loompas!

I miss the days of migdet exploitation. CGI Oopma Loompas would send me into a murderous frenzy. I wouldn't see it since I didn't like the original, even as a kid, and I haven't liked anything Burton has done since Edward Scissorhands (he's second to Jerry Bruckheimer in my list of directors not to watch), which was 13 years ago.

I'm a bigger Walken fan than I am a Burton hater though and I'd rent it if Walken was in it.

This makes me gleefully happy. I think it's a good match. Hell, if it sucks, it sucks, but I love Roald Dahl and love to see his work doing well.

JOHNNY DEPP AS.... WONKA!
http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=816

I hope its walken not depp. On the other hand I'm sure depp could be worked in there somewhere. I think he would play a great villan trying to buy the formula for everlasting gobstoppers.

Hey Troublebot I'm against the tide with you as well. Leave this movie alone. Burton's first Batman and Pee Wee are classics but lately his shit has been stinkin up the screen. Tell Burton to go make a movie where he can showcase his girlfriend's ample assests (again)but leave Charlie Bucket alone.:mad:

Here's hoping for a troop of Hell spawned and scissorhanded midgets playing the Oompa Loompas. And they have to eat children instead of dumping them down the tubes.

For the LOVE OF GOD, why don't they sstop with the remakes and start making films that are actually original??

Cause hollywood has ran out of ideas...

Sounds cool, i hope he can pull it off.

After seeing Johnny Depp play Ed Wood, I have almost no doubt in my mind that he would be a excellent Wonka. He seems adapt to almost every strange role handed to him.

Toublebot is your avatar from Day of the Dead "Bob"?

I thought that was David Lee Roth having a bad face day. :confused: :rolleyes: :confused:

I wanna play Wonka.

Depp and Burton have been together before. Some good (Edward Sicsor Hands) and some bad (Sleepy Hollow). If they don't fuck up the script, this movie will be awsome. Depp can play anything.

*standing ovation*

Seriously though, Burton is *THE MAN* to do this flick RIGHT. I think all of us can agree this film has become a classic but like 99% of movies based on books it is crap in the creators eye.

Give me dark wonka and I'll buy a ticket. The only part that worries me is the fucking suits and "Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt will be two of the producers.", while we all know producers do jack shit I dont' want these two fucks getting int he way and fucking it up.

i'd totally wanna go see that!

That's the exact script I wrote for myself.