Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film) Elfman contributed to a film score using written songs and his vocals. Filming took place from June to December 2004 at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was released to positive critical reception and was a box office success, grossing $475 million worldwide. Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore) is a poor boy who lives near the Wonka Candy Company. The company's owner, Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp), has for long closed access to his factory due to problems concerning industrial espionage that led him to fire all his employees, among them Charlie's Grandpa Joe (David Kelly). One
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film) sexually transmitted disease. Burton immediately thought of Johnny Depp for the role of Willy Wonka, who in August 2003 joined the film, his fourth collaboration with the director. Lurie's script received a rewrite by Pamela Pettler, who worked with Burton on "Corpse Bride", but the director hired "Big Fish" screenwriter John August in December 2003 to start from scratch. Both August and Burton were fans of the book since their childhoods. August first read "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" when he was eight years old, and subsequently sent Dahl a fan letter. He did not see the 1971 film prior