The Burton/Manson/Chocolate Rumor

The thought of Burton directing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory sounds captivating, but it is reported that the remake of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is still far proceeding. The first casting rumor was from the British tabloid The Sun. It reported that Marilyn Manson was going to play the singing chocolate factory proprietor with Tim Burton directing.

The rumors of the shock rocker in the lead role are said to be a simple flight of the imagination. In fact it is reported that there hasn't been the smallest attempt at casting yet. However, reports say that the studio has been doing some hush-hush closed-door meetings, working on a short list of potential directors. Apparently, Tim Burton is near the top of list. It is said that the studio is looking at other potential directors including Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich), Terry Gilliam (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) and David Cronenberg (The Fly), as well as Gary (Pleasantville) Ross and Scott (Out of Sight) which it is said that they have already signed a deal to direct and adapt Charlie. In fact, Scott Frank was spotted talking about the project on the Writer's Guild. It is said that he has been so busy with Spielberg's Minority Report that he couldn't get to it.
It is reported that Tim Burton is also busy with Planet of the Apes and is in talks for another genre piece. As for Manson, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of the biggest possible moneymakers of children's projects aside from HARRY POTTER that Warner Bros. owns. This is the studio that recently cut BATMAN BEYOND on home video, so why would they hire the Marilyn Manson to play the lead in the motion picture? Any takers?


One last bit of gossip is the title. It is said that Willy Wonka not being remade; instead they're adapting Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Willy Wonka is one of the more subtly subversive and psychedelic movies of the last couple of decades and it will be incredible to see Charlie made!

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- Armin Moulton