March 31, 2000

9:08 AM

News of the Wonka remake. I think Nick Cage would suck as Wonka, but Dustin Hoffman...that's interesting.
posted by veruca (6 comments total)

This seems like a Robin Williams part to me.
posted by Steven Den Beste at 12:59 PM on March 31, 2000

with Robin Williams, wouldn't it feel like a Toys remake? I think they should get Gene Wilder to do it again, or forget about the remake entirely.
posted by mathowie at 2:07 PM on March 31, 2000

what about johnny depp? he's made a career of playing eccentrics and other-worldly types.

rcb
posted by rebeccablood at 3:38 PM on March 31, 2000

Ooh, that might work, actually. Robin Williams is too trite and spazzed, methinks. The Wonka from the book was very in control of himself, but still silly.

As for Wilder, Dahl hated that Wilder was chosen over Dahl's favorite for the lead. The purpose of this remake is to end up with a movie that is more true to the book, so I can understand why they'd want someone completely new.
posted by veruca at 4:25 PM on March 31, 2000

The thing about this is that Dahl wrote the screenplay, so one would expect the first movie to be close to what Dahl wanted. The story, while varied from the book, is consistent in theme and purpose. Compare Burton's James and the Giant Peach which is only the same in coarse details, but the theme and purpose of Burton's story is not at all the same as the book. Hopefully they won't botch Wonka the same way.
posted by plinth at 6:01 PM on March 31, 2000

Well, don't leave me in suspense.

Who didDahl want instead of Gene Wilder?
posted by Steven Den Beste at 4:06 AM on April 1, 2000