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
Inside Charlie's Chocolate Factory Inside Charlie's Chocolate Factory Inside Charlie's Chocolate Factory: The Complete Story of Willy Wonka, the Golden Ticket, and Roald Dahl's Most Famous Creation is a 2014 non-fiction book by Lucy Mangan. It was released at the same time as the 50th anniversary edition of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and looks at the origin and history of that story. "Inside Charlie's Chocolate Factory" has generally received good reviews. The San Diego Book Review wrote, "True fans who have grown up adoring the film, and have shared it with future generations, will revel in seeing the details of "Inside Charlie's Chocolate