Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka?

[Barb101]

E! Online reports it could soon be Oompa Loompa time for Johnny Depp. Currently sailing the seas as Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl's Captain Jack Sparrow, Depp may be foregoing the rum for some everlasting gobstoppers -- he's reportedly the frontrunner to play Willy Wonka in director Tim Burton's update of Roald Dahl's classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Earlier reports initially had Warner Bros. and the helmer eyeing Christopher Walken and Michael Keaton as everyone's favorite Candy Man. But Burton and Warners sweetened on Depp following the blockbuster success of Pirates of the Caribbean, according to Daily Variety. That swashbuckling adventure has grossed over $200 million worldwide and already has a sequel in the works.

If Burton punches Depp's golden ticket, it would mark the versatile actor's fourth starring role for the director: Depp cut up the screen as the title character in 1990's Edward Scissorhands, played the legendary cross-dressing, angora-obsessed B-moviemaker in 1994's Ed Wood and kept his head as Ichibod Crane in 1999's Sleepy Hollow.

Warners has long wanted to redo the twisted kiddie story, but Dahl was never a big fan of the 1971 adaptation, titled Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and starring Gene Wilder, which the author thought was half-baked (even though it's now considered a cult classic). Since his death, Dahl's estate has been hesitant to greenlight another movie version.

Enter Burton, whose resume includes such darkly stylish morsels as Batman and The Nightmare Before Christmas, as well as manic comic gems like Pee-wee's Big Adventure and Beetlejuice, all of which share Dahl's off-kilter sensibilities. Burton also produced the 1996 animated versionof Dahl's James and the Giant Peach. With Burton on board, the family signed off on the remake.

If all goes well, expect Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in theaters some time in 2005.


Really Scary (http://www.reallyscary.com/)

[shotglass]

This is a little different than what I heard. I heard he was doing a movie called 'Willie's Wonker Goes Up The Hershey Highway".

I heard Johnny Depp was gay...:what:

...waiting for the ladies to defend him.....:hehe:

[Laurie]

Actually, I think he'll do great.

I just saw him in "From Hell." He played "Abberline," the man investigating the "Ripper" murders. Very intriguing. :D

[Barb101]

He did play a gay Cuban prison guard in a movie once. :D And you really should stop listening to Bucko's rumors Shotty. :rolleyes:

Laurie! You're just now seeing that?! I really liked that movie. I thought it was interesting how they brought the whole Freemason's & royal family into it. A very dark movie.

[gopsdragon]

Originally posted by Barb101
He did play a gay Cuban prison guard

Who'd a thunk it? In prison??

[Laurie]

Originally posted by Barb101
He did play a gay Cuban prison guard in a movie once. :D And you really should stop listening to Bucko's rumors Shotty. :rolleyes:

Laurie! You're just now seeing that?! I really liked that movie. I thought it was interesting how they brought the whole Freemason's & royal family into it. A very dark movie.

Barb, I had no idea it existed until 2 or 3 Sundays ago when I was channel surfing, and BAM, there it was on HBO. :shrug: I loved every aspect of the movie. Jack The Ripper has intrigued me since high school when we discussed him briefly in psych class.

My next endeavor is to purchase Patricia Cornwell's (one of my favorite authors, btw) book, Portrait Of A Killer, Jack The Ripper: Case Closed."

I was reading mixed reviews about the book online last night, but after I read it, I'll be the judge myself. :)

[shotglass]

Originally posted by Barb101
He did play a gay Cuban prison guard in a movie once. :D And you really should stop listening to Bucko's rumors Shotty. :rolleyes:

;) Bucko said he got it from a reliable source, so that's good enough for me. :hehe:

[Freak]

Johnny Depp Likens U.S. to 'Dumb Puppy' (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,96331,00.html)

Wednesday, September 03, 2003

BERLIN — American actor Johnny Depp (search) likened his native country to a "dumb puppy that has big teeth" in an interview published Wednesday, ridiculing Washington's confrontation with France, where he lives, over the war in Iraq.

The "Edward Scissorhands" and "Sleepy Hollow" star, who spends much of his time in the south of France with his companion, Vanessa Paradis (search), and their two small children, told the German magazine he couldn't see himself paying more than short visits to his Los Angeles residence in the present political climate.

"America is dumb, is something like a dumb puppy that has big teeth — that can bite and hurt you, aggressive," Depp was quoted as saying.

Depp recalled that French fries were renamed "Freedom" fries (search) in the House cafeteria on Capitol Hill at the height of U.S. anger over France's refusal to back the administration of President George W. Bush over the war in Iraq.

"Nothing made me happier than when I read that — grown men and grown women in positions of power in the United States government," Depp said. "I was ecstatic because they revealed themselves as idiots."

Depp said he wanted his two children, ages 1 and 4, to experience the United States "like it's a kind a toy — a broken toy maybe. Investigate a little bit, check it out, get this feeling and then get out."

[Dave]

Long-haired, hippy freak (not you Freak), Johnny Depp:fbomb: :fbomb:

[groovehouse]

Originally posted by Barb101
He did play a gay Cuban prison guard in a movie once.

actually... it was a dual role.

he played a visiting transvestite prostitute and he played an officer in the prison ranks.

it was definately two roles.

the movie was Before Night Falls (http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0247196/) about Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas

as far as Depp playing Wonka, I think it will be a beautifully dark, dark rendition, especially with Tim Burton at the helm.

BTW, Depp was great in Pirates of the Caribbean.

[Barb101]

That's the movie Groovehouse!! It was actually pretty good too.

I really liked him in Pirates of the Caribbean too. That was a good roll for him.

Here is his latest statement on the "dumb puppy" comment...

Denying any anti-American sentiment on his part, actor Johnny Depp said on September 4, 2003 that quotes attributed to him as likening the United States to a 'dumb puppy' were inaccurate and taken out of context. 'I am an American. I love my country and have great hopes for it,' Depp said in a statement released by his Los Angeles-based publicist. 'It is for this reason that I speak candidly and sometimes critically about it. I have benefited greatly from the freedom that exists in my country and for this I am eternally grateful.' Depp poses during a photo call at the Venice Lido August 28. Photo by Tony Gentile/Reuters

Yahoo News (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=index2&cid=702)

[Peckable]

Originally posted by Barb101
Depp poses during a photo call at the Venice Lido August 28. Photo by Tony Gentile/Reuters...

Uh Oh! :scary: Wait a minute! Who's that in the backround! Oh No, Johnny, say it isn't so!
:cry:

[bearfoot]

[i]Originally posted by groovehouse......

as far as Depp playing Wonka, I think it will be a beautifully dark, dark rendition, especially with Tim Burton at the helm.

BTW, Depp was great in Pirates of the Caribbean. [/B]

I think Jonny Depp is an excellent actor, he's totally gorgeous and yet he's been smart enough to choose roles that play the handsome thing down and let his acting take over...loved him in Benny & Joon and What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

Agree Groovehouse, he and Tim Burton make a great team...they both seem to have a handle on the other side of reality..I think Jonny will make an excellent Willy Wonka - would definatley see it just to check out how he plays it. (the only other actor I can think of who might make a good Willy Wonka is Nicholas Cage, he does a good weird.)
The origanal Wonka movie was ok for kids but it played down the warped side, which is a shame...the story has great scope for being totally out there and Burton would sure be the guy to capture it well.

I have a passion for pirates (so does my daughter) - can't wait to see Pirates of the Caribbean when it's on here during the coming school holidays...can you tell me how adult it is?? nudity/sex??would it freak a 4yo out?? she's not an average winnie the pooh type kid by a long shot, she loves the swashbuckling thing and adventure movies, but I'm not sure whether to let her see this one..she's seen the ads and shes begging to go.

[Barb101]

Bearfoot, Pirates is ok to take your daughter to. Very little sexual innuendo & no nudity. Just some violence but not a lot of bloodshed. Depp is perfect in his roll. Nonchalant & swaggering. Orlando Bloom (LOTR) was really good in this movie too.

You do have to respect Depp's choices in roles he's taken on. He could have easily fallen into the stereotypical "hawt dude" roles but he decided early on he didn't want to go that route. He wanted to be taken seriously.

Hmm, Nicolas Cage would make an interesting Wonka too.

(LOL Peckable :laugh: :rolleyes: )

[Laurie]

I want Nicholas Cage. :love:

[Peckable]

How about Vin Diesel? I think that could work. Give Willy a little bit more of an edge...

[groovehouse]

Originally posted by Laurie
I want Nicholas Cage. :love:

for Wonka?

[JasmineDreamz]

Looks like this could easily turn into a photoshop thread here. Who's your dream Willy?

[JasmineDreamz]

Would you accept candy from this man?

[bearfoot]

lmao - man, you guys are funny.

Yep, I thought Nicholas Cage would be the man for the job, now I see the pic I'm sure of it....must send that one off to Tim Burton.
OK...so he was my choice for a good Willy....but I'd love to see a pic of Michael Jackson as the Wonka man. :scary:

Another really good Jonny Depp movie is 'Deadman'. I like unusual movies, so this one is not for everyone, but if you like something really different and not mainstream it's well worth checking out.

[JasmineDreamz]

but I'd love to see a pic of Michael Jackson as the Wonka man.
Bearfoot, now that's just down right scarey.

[Laurie]

Originally posted by groovehouse
for Wonka?

Among other things. ;)

He DOES look fabulous as Wonka, doesn't he?

[groovehouse]

Originally posted by bearfoot
Another really good Jonny Depp movie is 'Deadman'. I like unusual movies, so this one is not for everyone, but if you like something really different and not mainstream it's well worth checking out.

Dead Man is absolutely awesome. Of course, it's also the director, Jim Jarmusch and the music by Neil Young that make this movie incredible.

I can just zone out on the images and music...

[Barb101]

A few pics from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" slated to open in July.

Willy
http://www.horrorhalloffame.com/bressler/0depp.jpg
Augustus
http://www.horrorhalloffame.com/bressler/0augustus1.jpg
Oompa
http://www.horrorhalloffame.com/bressler/0oompa.jpg
Veruca
http://www.horrorhalloffame.com/bressler/0veruca.jpg

[Barb101]

Violet
http://www.horrorhalloffame.com/bressler/0violet1.jpg

A couple from the set...

http://www.horrorhalloffame.com/bressler/0wonka3.jpg

http://www.horrorhalloffame.com/bressler/0wonka5.jpg

Official Poster
http://www.horrorhalloffame.com/bressler/0wonka4.jpg

I know Depp can pull this off, but eh the look just isn't there for him. Maybe it's his hair. :shrug:

[shotglass]

Maybe they shoulda hired someone who is straight for the role of Wonka. :Poke: But why the remake? Wasn't the original good enough?

[Barb101]

Even Gene Wilder was a little effeminate. Not that there is anything wrong with that. ;) I think Depp was a good choice. And We're talking Hollywood here. Money talks & remakes get made whether we want them or not.

[Freak]

A few pics from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" slated to open in July.

Willy {image}

Okay, tell me again he isn't a flamer. :sure:

[STIBROKER]

my niece read for the part of Veruca...........

[shotglass]

***must....resist.....Hershey....Highway....joke** *

[Barb101]

***must....resist.....Hershey....Highway....joke** *

:laugh: :cry: :laugh:
You want him, you know you do. :p ;)

[Kimmy]

Ok, I'll admit that look isn't attractive on him.. but we're not really supposed to be attracted to Willy Wonka in a sexual way, are we?

Barb, any pictures from the new Pirates of the Carribean movie?

[Barb101]

Ok, I'll admit that look isn't attractive on him.. but we're not really supposed to be attracted to Willy Wonka in a sexual way, are we?

Barb, any pictures from the new Pirates of the Carribean movie?

I agree, but Gene/Willy was kinda sexy in an evil mean kinda way. :evil:

No, no pics yet. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383574/
They've also changed the date to start filming to January now.

[JBMoney]

I saw online previews for this (or at least random footage) and... so far... it looks pretty horrible.

That said, previews are deceptive. Nothing I like better than seeing a certain movie's trailers shift to suit the target audience... psychology and art in action to pick your pocket. Good stuff.

I can't imagine a Depp-Burton movie not being worth a look, but these previews were pretty f'ing bad. Kind of seemed like Barney the Dinosaur had become human.

[Barb101]

Official Site (http://chocolatefactorymovie.warnerbros.com/)

Yeah, the preview does look pretty lame/gay & Tim Burton has produced a few stinkers in his time, but he's also had a few hits. His style takes a little getting used to sometimes. I've heard this isn't so much of a remake as it is a story being retold, if there really is that much of a difference.
http://www.horrorhalloffame.com/bressler/0darkcult.gif

[yitzy]

I saw the trailer. I couldn't tell it was a horror movie or a children's movie! I also had a hard time figuring out that Willy Wonka was supposed to be a man - with that long hair and eye mascara! I thought I saw lipstick too!