Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 2005
film adaptation of the 1964
book of the same name by
Roald Dahl. Directed by
Tim Burton, the film stars
Freddie Highmore as
Charlie Bucket and
Johnny Depp as
Willy Wonka. The storyline concerns a young boy (Highmore) winning a tour through the most magnificent chocolate factory in the world, led by an eccentric candy maker (Depp).
Development for another adaptation of
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory began in 1991, which resulted in
Warner Bros. providing the Dahl Estate with total
artistic control. Prior to Burton's involvement, directors such as
Gary Ross,
Rob Minkoff,
Martin Scorsese and
Tom Shadyac had been involved, while Warner Bros. either considered or discussed the role of Willy Wonka with
Nicolas Cage,
Jim Carrey,
Michael Keaton,
Brad Pitt,
Will Smith and
Adam Sandler.
