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
Willy Wonka Willy Wonka Willy Wonka is a fictional character who appears in Roald Dahl's 1964 children's novel "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and its sequel "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator". In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wonka has hidden five Golden Tickets inside chocolate bars, with the finders being rewarded with a tour of his factory and a promise of a lifetimes supply of chocolate, throughout the tour four of the children, with Charlie Bucket being left as the winner. At this point Wonka reveals that the real prize is the factory, as Wonka needs someone to take over the