Based on Roald Dahl’s children’s novel, Willy Wonka has made several on-screen appearances over the years, portrayed by Gene Wilder, Johnny Depp, and now Timothee Chalamet in the upcoming movie Wonka. While Chalamet is still to be seen as the eccentric founder of the Chocolate Factory, the actor surely has big shoes to fill, especially considering the last actor who brought the character to life on screen.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Depp, who is known for portraying unusual characters such as Edward Scissorhands and Captain Jack Sparrow, brought a unique and slightly crazier twist to Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. And the actor shared the distinctive inspiration for his exceptional character during a 2005 interview.

Johnny Depp’s Inspiration For Playing Willy Wonka

While Gene Wilder’s performance in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory continues to remain iconic, Johnny Depp took the character in a new direction in Tim Burton’s 2005 adaptation, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. When asked about his inspiration for his character in the 2005 musical fantasy, the actor named some beloved television figures that he grew up watching.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
During an interview with IGN, the Pirates of the Caribbean star shared that he remembered the unique speech patterns and mannerisms of the children’s show hosts.“Guys that I watched like Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Rogers and Uncle Al became that main part of the ingredient,” he said.

Depp also shared that he found them “super bizarre” as he felt that they put on a mask for the show. “So, that was the other side of Wonka,” The Tourist star said. The 2005 film features the Chocolate Factory founder’s tragic story of growing up with a dentist father who forbade him from consuming candy.
Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka
And it inspired him to capture the eccentric and enigmatic qualities of the character. He also worked on his physical appearance with the help of veneers, which changed the shape of his face a bit.

Johnny Depp Was Not Bothered By Michael Jackson Comparison

At the time of its release, Johnny Depp’s look as Willy Wonka was highly compared to the pop star Michael Jackson. When asked if the comparison with the King of Pop bothered him, he told IGN, “It doesn’t bother me. Everybody’s entitled to think what they want, even while being violently wrong.”
Michael Jackson and Willy Wonka
He also stated that similarities or any connection between his character and Michael Jackson’s appearance never occurred to him. “It never entered my mind,” he said before adding, “But it seems weird to me..” However, he did say that it could have occurred to many due to the make-up and “fantasyland kind of thing.”

Depp also named the individual who, according to him, would be comparable to his Willy Wonka. “I say if there was anyone you’d want to compare Wonka to, it would be a Howard Hughes, almost,” he said as he described him as “reclusive, germaphobe, [and] controlling.”

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is available on Max.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is available on Prime Video.