Here is Your Royalty Check, Mrs. Dahl. Now Please Stop Talking

Mitchum as Wonka: I will de-juice her in no time flat!

Just as Batman Begins begins its slow box-office wane, Warners has the PR ball rolling in earnest for the only summer film The Reeler has been genuinely anticipating: Tim Burton's adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Johnny Depp is featured in the current issue of Newsweek describing the "Snoopy dances" he did upon earning the role of Willie Wonka, while screenwriter John August has been detailing some of the difficulties involved in conforming Roald Dahl's genius to the rigors of the screen.

But my favorite commentary thus far has to be that of Dahl's widow Liccy, who not only laments that the English comic Spike Milligan never got the chance to play Wonka in the 1971 version, but also throws down a casting advisory for 2005:

She's happy with Depp's performance, too, although she admits she doesn't quite understand the actor's sex appeal. "Women just adore him, don't they?" she says. "I have to be honest, I think he's a little too pretty. Terribly nice, but he's no Robert Mitchum."
Yes, right, Robert Mitchum. He would have been a great Wonka; after all, he had always done so well with kids in his career.










Comments

I was looking forward to the new Wonka flick too, until I saw the preview. It's the same exact movie they already made! I know Depp was born to play the role and he will shine but so did Wilder and if this is just more of the same, I don't see the point. *shrug*


Not the same movie at all, according to what I've read...Depp's character is wierder, and there's backstory about his childhood, and well jeez, go see it! it's Burton and Depp, fergodsakes!


I can't wait to see it! Looks like Depp has created yet another memorable character.
And, like dramaced said..."it's Burton and Depp, fergodsakes!" ~ I'M THERE!!


I read the newsweek article where Liccy Dahl was commenting about Robert Mitchum. It was not at all like what you wrote in your comment, but a comment on why women found Johnny Depp attractive. He is "no Robert Mitchum". Where does that imply she thinks that he should be in this movie?



Trackbacks