Putting together a film based on a timeless novel is something that many studios have attempted. It makes sense, especially considering that the project will have immediate interest from book fans, but the truth is that this is hard to pull off. For every Harry Potter, there are a dozen Dark Towers.
Over the years, Willy Wonka has been brought to life multiple times, with Gene Wilder’s version being considered one of the best movies ever made. Multiple men have played Wonka, with some actors missing out on their Golden Ticket. However, despite playing a candymaker, one Wonka actor was allergic to chocolate growing up.
Let’s take a closer look at Willy Wonka and see which actor was allergic to chocolate long ago.
Willy Wonka Is An Iconic Fictional Character
Throughout modern history, there have been a number of fictional characters that have become increasingly popular with mainstream audiences. Harry Potter, for instance, is a character that was developed in recent decades and has transcended the pages he debuted on. Back in the 1960s, Willy Wonka made his debut in the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and has since become one of the most popular fictional characters ever conceived.
The character himself is quite interesting to read about, and seeing him come to life in multiple iterations has been truly spectacular for fans. The iconic candymaker was a big deal with audiences in the pages, and Roald Dahl did an amazing job in getting audiences in the real world interested in Wonka’s story.
In total, Wonka would appear in two books by Roald Dahl, those being a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. The latter is not as popular as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as it was the former that wound up getting the big screen treatment multiple times through the years. Thanks to this, there have been multiple actors who have taken on the role of Willy Wonka.
He Has Been Played By Several Actors
Back in 1971, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory made its debut on the big screen, and while it didn’t do much in the way of its box office performance, the film subsequently became one of the most loved movies of all time thanks to being played on the small screen frequently. Gene Wilder delivered a brilliant and timeless performance as Willy Wonka, and he set the bar for all others who would follow.
In 2005, Johnny Depp would take on the role of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was a modern take that was directed by Tim Burton. Unlike its predecessor, this film managed to make over $450 million at the global box office. However, it is not nearly as loved as the original, and most people prefer popping on the version from the 1970s with Gene Wilder as opposed to watching the Burton and Depp version.
Recently, it was announced that Timothée Chalamet would be the next actor to play Willy Wonka in a film that is to serve as the prequel to the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory story. Chalamet has some huge shoes to fill, considering the work that both Wilder and Depp did. He has shown himself to be an exceptional talent, so fans are hoping that he delivers the goods once filming gets underway.
Willy Wonka is known worldwide for his tasty confections, but one actor who played the character actually had a chocolate allergy while growing up.
Johnny Depp Was Allergic To Chocolate
According to Marie Claire, Johnny Depp had a chocolate allergy while growing up. This allergy would subside over time but it does tell an interesting story that someone who was allergic to chocolate grew up to portray arguably the most famous candymaker of all time. Coincidentally, this wasn’t the only flick that Depp starred in that revolved around tasty chocolate treats.
Back in 2000, Depp would star alongside Juliette Binoche in Chocolat, which was a film that saw its lead actress play a chocolatier. While Depp wasn’t the one making the candy this time around, it’s still funny to think that he has had multiple bouts with the candy that he used to be allergic to back when he was just a kid.
Johnny Depp‘s chocolate allergy from his childhood didn’t stop him from taking on the role of Willy Wonka on the big screen back in the 2000s. Let’s just be glad that he wasn’t allergic to something that would have prevented him from taking one of his many iconic roles.