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
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory those rare, genuinely imaginative children's entertainments at which no adult need be embarrassed to be seen." By the mid-1980s, "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" had experienced a spike in popularity thanks in large part to repeated television broadcasts and home video sales. Following a 25th anniversary theatrical re-release in 1996, it was released on DVD the next year, allowing it to reach a new generation of viewers. The film was released as a remastered special edition on DVD and VHS in 2001 to commemorate the film's 30th anniversary. In 2003, "Entertainment Weekly" ranked it 25th in the "Top 50