Depp close to managing Burton's CHOCOLATE FACTORY

PIRATES captain likely to see Oompa-Loompas next year

By Patrick Sauriol     August 20, 2003
Source: Variety

Today's Variety reports that Johnny Depp has been offered the role of Willy Wonka in Tim Burton's remake of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Negotiations have begun between Depp's agents and the movie's studio, Warner Bros. The thespian is in a strong position to earn a lot of gold coins; Depp's last film, Disney's PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, is a $250 million dollar blockbuster.

Prior to Johnny Depp becoming the finalist for the part of Wonka, this site reported in early July that Christopher Walken was a strong candidate for the part. Another report issued by the Dark Horizons website said that Michael Keaton was another candidate at the time.

Variety also mentions that screenwriter Pamela Pettler is rewriting the script. Pettler worked on the Burton produced THE CORPSE BRIDE, a stop-motion animation film also at WB.


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