Waiting to see Johnny Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has becoming extremely difficult for me, especially after catching a glimpse of him as Willy Wonka in the recent previews (“Chewing gum is really gross. Chewing gum I hate the most.”). With Tim Burton directing Depp in this remake of Roald Dahl’s children’s classic, I think viewers are in for something special when the film is released by Warner Bros. on July 15, 2005. Of course, I’m not a bit objective where Depp is concerned. I always feel optimistic about his movies -- and have seldom been disappointed.

Like many fans, I’m curious to know who Depp chose as the model for his interpretation of Willy Wonka. He claims using the late actor Roddy MacDowell as one inspiration for his amusing Icabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow, and rocker Keith Richards for his outrageous Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Whatever he decided, I’m fairly certain Burton approved without much fuss.        

Depp and Burton worked together quite successfully on three other films (Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, and Sleepy Hollow). Besides respecting each other as artists, they seem to share an off-beat way of looking at the world, which shines through in these movies. I expect that same synergy to enhance Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

While trying to keep up on the news about Depp’s new movie, I found the following interesting tidbits I’d like to share with ReelTalk visitors:

1. Because Burton wanted the actors to be able to react to their surroundings, he insisted that actual full-size sets be built instead of relying on computer-generated images.  

2. The Oompa Loompas look completely different in this new film adaptation. Wearing big dark glasses, they appear a bit eerie and creepy, which is certainly no surprise in a Tim Burton project.  

3. This movie version isn’t a musical. Burton decided to make a film that adheres more closely to Dahl’s book.   

4. John August, who did the imaginative screenplay for Big Fish, wrote this film adaptation. Even though practically everyone knows the Willy Wonka story by now, August promises there will be some surprises for viewers.               

5. The Chocolate River Room might be one of those surprises. Production designer Alex McDowell (Minority Report) calls this largest set built for the movie “an explosion of color and taste.” He says it’s filled with edible foliage and a giant river of flowing chocolate. Yummy!

6. In addition to Burton, August and McDowell, this film boasts a “Who’s Who” of behind-the-scenes artists including Danny Elfman (original music), Philippe Rousselot (cinematography), and Gabriella  Pescucci. Elfman worked with Burton and Depp on Sleepy Hollow; Rousselot was the cinematographer for Big Fish; and Pescucci won a Best Costume Oscar for The Age of Innocence.    

7. Freddie Highmore, the terrific young actor who displayed such a strong rapport with Depp in Finding Neverland, plays Charlie Bucket, the boy from a poor family who wins a trip to the Wonka Chocolate Factory. 

I’m sure July 15th can’t come soon enough for Depp fans -- and chocoholics -- like me.    

(Sources: www.imdb.com and www.comingsoon.net. To visit the official Charlie and The Chocolate Factory website, click here.)