Since Gene Wilder beguiled us with his scary but sincere chocolatier in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, new interpretations of Roald Dahl’s children’s classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory have emerged to offer us a delicious mix of fable and fantasy. They include Tim Burton’s striking 2005 film, a 2013 Broadway musical and Wonka, an origin story starring Timothée Chalamet that’s due in theaters Dec. 15, 2023. But what is it about Willy Wonka and his complicated but wonderful world that keeps us intrigued? Is it the story? The visuals? Or just the very relatable hope that we all have a chance at winning a Golden Ticket that will change our lives? In this savory, photo-filled issue, we explore what each take on Dahl’s 1964 novel adds to the lore and why we, the audience, continue to seek out every colorful adventure.
THE UNOFFICIAL STORY OF WILLY WONKA
WHY WE LOVE WILLY WONKA • The Golden Ticket may have promised a lifetime supply of chocolate, but what it would lead to for Charlie — and all of us — was a whimsical journey toward wisdom, validation, hope and confidence
A NOVEL IDEA • Using his imagination to enhance a story born out of real-life tragedy, Roald Dahl created a children’s book enjoyed by all ages
WHO WAS ROALD DAHL?
The Making of WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY • Roald Dahl may have provided the sugar for a great movie, but a team of filmmakers mixed in other key ingredients to create a sweet treat that continues to delight audiences
WHO WAS GENE WILDER?
WRAP PED UP IN NEW PACKAGING • Director Tim Burton swirled elements of the book and the 1971 movie into an updated cinematic confection in the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
THE MAN With the GOLDEN TICKET • Where does a unique figure like Willy Wonka come from? Producers of the 2023 film Wonka invested in his origin story, which features Timothée Chalamet in the titular role
WHO IS TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET?
A SOUNDTRACK THAT POPS • With an Oscar-nominated score underlying the action, the 1971 movie also yielded the only No. 1 song in Sammy Davis Jr.’s vaunted career
The WIDER WORLD of WONKA • From opera to Broadway, video games to comic books, and Halloween costumes to actual candy, a cottage industry has sprung from the floor of a fictional candy factory
Willy Wonka - The Unofficial Story
PHOTO CREDITS
