Johnny Depp’s Replacement Says He Didn’t Ask the Actor For Advice

In 1971, people around the world saw the Roald Dahl novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, come to life on the big screen. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory — as the movie was called — told the story of a young boy named Charlie Bucket and his fantastic journey to the chocolate factory run by the mysterious Willy Wonka. The film starred the late Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket, and Jack Albertson as Grandpa Joe.

Then, in 2005, the classic story got a unique twist when legendary director Tim Burton created Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This more modern movie was full of zany characters, plenty of chocolate, and a very creepy Willy Wonka. This time, Willy Wonka was played by Johnny Depp — one of Burton’s favorite actors to work with.

Depp and Burton have worked on nearly a dozen projects together, including Edward Scissorhands (1991), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Alice in Wonderland (2010), and Dark Shadows (2012).

Related: Johnny Depp Has Officially Been Replaced

Now, another Willy Wonka movie is about to hit theaters — Wonka. The movie — which will premiere on December 15 — stars Timothée Chalamet as a young Willy Wonka. Unlike past films based on Dahl’s novel, Wonka will tell the story of how Willy Wonka became the famous chocolate maker. Viewers will get to see how a determined young man was able to overcome greedy chocolatiers and bring delectable confections to people around the world.

Chalamet recently Wonka’s red carpet premiere and was asked about bringing Willy Wonka to life in a new way. He said that he loved both Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, when it came to how he would portray the young and hungry candy maker, he said that he did not go to Depp for advice.

“No, and I love that version,” Chalamet exclusively told E! News’ Erin Lim Rhodes on The Rundown, referring to Depp’s performance in 2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. “[That] version came out when I was about 10 or 11 years old, and I just thought it was very bold.”

Instead, the 27-year-old actor looked back on his school days for inspiration.

But when it came time for Chalamet to don the beloved character’s velvet suit and top hat, he may have leaned on one of his own past roles instead: his rapping alter ego Lil Timmy Tim from his school days.

The 27-year-old joked that “no one” in his life gets to see Timmy Tim anymore, telling E! News that the persona is “locked away deep into a corner of the digital footprint and [a] deep, dark part of my mind.” 

Related: Timothée Chalamet Shines in New Wonka Trailer

Wonka looks like it will take more after the 1971 Gene Wilder movie, at least in terms of musical numbers. The preview — which you can watch below — showed a vibrant musical number in the public square.

Wonka will also star Hugh Grant as Willy Wonka’s first Oompa-Loompa, Olivia Colman as Mrs. Scrubbit, and Sally Hawkins as Willy’s mother. Paterson Joseph will play Slugworth (whose name you may remember from the 1971 movie), Rowan Atkinson will portray Father Julius, and Keegan Michael Key will star as the Chief of Police.

While fans have not yet been able to head to the theaters to see Wonka, critics have been given early access and are really liking what they see. Early reviews are in and Wonka has an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Will you be seeing Wonka when it premieres in theaters on December 15? Let us know in the comments!