Beloved Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory actor Gene Wilder recently passed away at age 83. He left behind a legacy of amazing work in TV and film, including the memory of his most renowned role — Willy Wonka.
It’s hard to fill Wilder’s shoes, especially in such a highly revered role, but Johnny Depp gave it a shot with Tim Burton’s remake Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. According to Gene Wilder, the whole thing was a miss.
In a 2013 interview with Turner Classic Movies, Wilder shared his thoughts on the Tim Burton remake and Johnny Depp’s role as the infamous Willy Wonka. Apparently, the actor wasn’t too pleased.
“I think it’s an insult. … To do that with Johnny Depp, who I think is a good actor and I like him, but I don’t care for that director. He’s a talented man, but I don’t care for him for doing stuff like he did,” he said.
Check out the interview below. Wilder’s comments on Tim Burton are around the 20 minute mark.
