Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film) Palin (as well as the other three Monty Python members) had all previously expressed interest in playing Wonka in the 1971 film adaptation. Johnny Depp was the only actor Burton considered for the role, although Dwayne Johnson was Burton's second choice in case Depp was unavailable. Depp signed on without reading the script under the intention of going with a completely different approach than what Gene Wilder did in the 1971 film adaptation. Depp said regardless of the original film, Gene Wilder's characterization of Willy Wonka stood out as a unique portrayal. Depp and Burton derived their Willy Wonka from
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this assessment in a letter to "The Horn Book Review", saying that her own daughter would turn "quite nasty" upon finishing the book. Roald Dahl responded to Cameron's criticisms by noting the classics she had cited would not be well received by contemporary children. The cover art for Penguin UK's Modern Classics , published in September 2014, received criticism as being creepy, irrelevant, and age inappropriate. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" has frequently been adapted for other media, including games, radio, the screen, and stage, most often as plays or musicals for children – often titled "Willy Wonka" or "Willy