Tim Burton in Talks to Direct 'Chocolate Factory'

[Guest MrRant]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Filmmaker Tim Burton (news), whose quirky credits range from "Beetlejuice" to "Batman," is in talks with Warner Bros. to direct a new movie adaptation of the Roald Dahl children's classic "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

 

The studio confirmed a report in Daily Variety on Thursday that Burton will meet in London in the next few days with surviving members of the Dahl family to discuss the project.

 

The Dahl estate, which holds rights to the late author's works, has the final say over a director for the film, and Burton is the family's leading candidate for the job, one source close to the situation told Reuters.

 

The studio, a unit of AOL Time Warner Inc., is hoping to begin pre-production on the film by the end of this year, the studio said.

 

The 1964 novel was first made into a movie in 1971's "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," starring Gene Wilder (news) as the eccentric chocolatier who tempts children all over London with the possibility of finding a golden ticket hidden in one of his candy bars. He then leads the young winners, including meek little Charlie Bucket, on a tour of his mysterious candy factory.

 

Dahl, who died in 1990, wrote the original screenplay from his own book, though by some accounts was unhappy with the final product. The movie was a box office disappointment and initially drew lackluster reviews, as many critics found it to be too dark. But the film has become somewhat of a cult classic over the years.

 

"Willy Wonka" was released by Paramount Pictures, which reportedly is developing an adaptation of another Dahl book, "The BFG."

 

According to Variety, a screenwriter who worked on the "BFG" project, Gwyn Lurie, was tapped by Warner Bros. to pen a rewrite of the initial script for its "Chocolate Factory" adaptation.

 

Burton is best known in Hollywood for his creative renderings of such fantasy films as "Batman," "Beetlejuice," "Edward Scissorhands," "Sleepy Hollow" and a remake of "Planet of the Apes."

 

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"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is one of my favorite movies of all time. It is a classic. Don't fuck it it you motherfuckers. I will be so fucking pissed.

 

Gene Wilder was perfect and owned that role.

[Guest WrestlingDeacon]

Last I heard, they wanted Nicholas Cage to be Wonka.

[Guest MrRant]

Last I heard, they wanted Nicholas Cage to be Wonka.

I'd kill the lot of them.

[Guest IDrinkRatsMilk]

Actually, last I heard, Burton was directing and Marilyn Manson was Wonka. That would have ruled.

[Guest MrRant]

Don't you even dare to say that would rule.

[Guest bob_barron]

Just let the first one stand alone. Why do a remake?

 

I love the book and the movie- don't ruin it

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

If I were to make a remake of CATCF Burton would be 1 or 2 on the list...

 

Of course, I'm not at all interested in raping a part of my childhood, so I wouldn't make it in the first place...

[Guest El Satanico]

If they allow Burton to be himself and don't make him tone his style down(Planet of the Apes) this will rule.

 

I like the original, but face it the original really wasn't all that great. Wonka and Grandpa Charlie were great, but the rest of it was mediocre. Remaking this isn't some great crime against cinema, we're not talking about Citizen Kane here.

 

I really hope Nicolas Cage doesn't get cast as Wonka. I actually don't mind Nicolas Cage, but he just wouldn't fit the part. I'd love to see Burton throw a total curve ball and cast someone like Christopher Walken as Wonka.

[Guest Crucifixio Jones]

Just let the first one stand alone. Why do a remake?

 

Um...because Hollywood is intellectually bankrupt and there isn't one original idea floating around the whole place thus we get needless remakes of treasured classics or stupider sequels of stupid movies that shouldn't have ever been greenlighted for a first installement.

[Guest mach7]

Jesus Fuck, does EVERY movie have to be remade?!?!

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

"Willy Wonka" was released by Paramount Pictures, which reportedly is developing an adaptation of another Dahl book, "The BFG."

 

Has anyone else but me ever read that? I'm trying to remember it from when I was younger, but I remember these giants would eat people, but there was one lovable one who didn't. It was actually pretty violent.

[Guest crandamaniac]

I'd just hate to see his Ommpa Loompas

[Guest bob_barron]

All Roald Dahl books are very dark and violent.

 

No one really ate any of the kids in the book- it was just mentioned by the BFG so they could easily not show it.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

could be worse, I suppose...

 

Vin Diesel is...Charlie Bucket.

[Guest Flyboy]

CATCF is overrated. The only thing I liked about the movie is the Ommpa Lommpas.

 

But I agree... remaking movies is very ghey.

[Guest bob_barron]

It's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the name of the book

Edited May 23, 2003 by bob_barron

[Guest JHawk]

If it gets cast properly and if it's done right, it would rule.

 

But I have no faith in any remake actually worth a damn.

[Guest El Satanico]

As long as Burton stays true to his own twisted mind, I guarantee that I'll love this movie.

 

The movie hinges on who they cast as Wonka. They can't replace someone like Gene Wilder, but they don't need to. Like i said I'd like to see it come out of left field with someone like Christopher Walken or Tim Curry cast. Of course with Burton there's a good chance of Johnny Depp getting the part and I wouldn't hate that either.

 

I bet Marilyn Manson has already called to see about a cameo or work on the soundtrack. Hell he's already done a cover of the creepy song from the tunnel ride.

[Guest subliminal_animal]

I really hope Nicolas Cage doesn't get cast as Wonka. I actually don't mind Nicolas Cage, but he just wouldn't fit the part. I'd love to see Burton throw a total curve ball and cast someone like Christopher Walken as Wonka.

I think that was joke, on how Nicholas Cage is attached to all these projects that never pan out (at least with him).

 

Actually, last I heard, Burton was directing and Marilyn Manson was Wonka. That would have ruled.

Yeah, he's tall and lanky and wears a top hat once in a while. That's a great idea!

 

Anyhow, Gene Wilder was cool, but that movie was a little scary. And Roald Dahl is a piece of shit.

[Guest El Satanico]

Wait how is it being creepy a bad thing...

[Guest Human Fly]

They got to leave the music in it. They can't be replacing the classics with new songs. Of course they are going to redo them and whatever, but they should be the same songs.

 

On the subject of Roald Dahl, I always thought Fantastic Mr. Fox was a great book.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

I always thought Roald Dahl owned. The guy was a genius at disguising ultraviolence as humor and mental abuse as just run-of-the-day junk. Roald was practically the second-coming of The Brothers Grimm, only just one guy.

[Guest bob_barron]

I always thought Roald Dahl owned. The guy was a genius at disguising ultraviolence as humor and mental abuse as just run-of-the-day junk. Roald was practically the second-coming of The Brothers Grimm, only just one guy.

I completely agree. Dahl is all my time favourite author.

 

Going Solo is all my time favourite book.

[Guest MrRant]

What about the Witches? Both the book and the movie are pretty dark.

 

I like the Witches movie. Got it on my Tivo.

[Guest wrestlingbs]

I have no faith in Hollywood remaking WWATCF. If you can screw up the Superman plot so badly (Have you read the latest draft of the script?) they can screw up anything.

 

Plus Burton doesn't have a good track record with remakes. Planet of the Apes was ok at best.

[Guest Vyce]

Oh this will just be bad, bad, BAD. It's going to make me sit in a corner and cry, I just know it.

[Guest El Satanico]

You need to have more than one movie to have a track record.

 

Besides Planet of The Apes wasn't a true "Tim Burton film". Either he agreed to or the studio forced him to abandon his usual style to make a summer blockbuster friendly movie. I actually enjoyed Planet of The Apes, but it was very watered down style wise for a Tim Burton film.

 

Willy Wonka is the type of movie that calls for "bizarre style", so he'll be allowed to be himself hopefully. Like I said earlier the success of this remake depends on if Burton is allowed to be himself.

Edited May 23, 2003 by El Satanico

[Guest El Satanico]

The Witches is a VERY VERY dark movie. For a kids movies it's very creepy and I'm sure it scared the shit out of many kids.

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

Jesus Fuck, does EVERY movie have to be remade?!?!

Duh Silly!

 

Hollywood is out of ideas. I thought that was common knowledge.

 

Its so easier to remake a movie than it is to come up with an original idea. Why put a ton of effort into a movie that will make a couple hundred million, when you can put half an ounce worth of effort into it and still make a couple hundred million?

 

I can't wait til they decide to rape and pillage the classics from the 20's-40's. They are only waiting because the majority of people who would give a damn about it (people who remember when these movies first came out) are nearly all dead or don't even have a clue whats going on any more.

[Guest Nevermortal]

Last I heard, Manson was remaking Rocky Horror in the Tim Curry part.

 

Updating of the much-loved 1975 Tim Curry flick, to be released early in 2003 to coincide with the original show's thirtieth anniversary of its London debut. Elliot's new millennium Frank'n-Furter no longer inhabits his decrepit Transylvanian mansion but is instead, a high profile plastic surgeon living life to the full in his luxury apartment. Still obssessed with physical perfection however, his aim is to create visually at least, the perfect man. Dialog and music is unchanged in deference to the original production.

Edited May 23, 2003 by Nevermortal