The new ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, a double-issue dated April 29 & May 6, 2005, features a full-page preview of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY on page 74, in the section on July releases. More than half the page is a photo of Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka, wearing huge sunglasses, standing outside his chocolate factory. EW’s writer calls CATCF “a risky remake” and genuflects reverently to the 1971 Gene Wilder version, saying it “remains a classic.” The article quotes Johnny’s praise of Wilder’s Willy Wonka: “The seedling of Gene Wilder rests at the bottom of your brain and you can never get rid of it. But I figured if I started to go into that arena, I had to tell myself, ‘Stay away!'”

EW adds that Johnny signed on for the film “without seeing a script” or knowing if he would be required to sing. EW reports, “To Depp’s relief–and, he says to the relief of moviegoers everywhere–” the answer was no. The Zone thanks emma for posting the EW story on the News & Views forum.