JohnnyDepp-Zone.com

The summer movie season must be getting close, because this weekend brought plenty of new promotional activity for Tim Burton’s CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. A new television commercial aired during the ABC showing of HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS on Saturday night; Zoners are giving the spot good reviews. Thanks to Donna B. for breaking the story, and to tina_als_girl for posting her screencaps of the commercial and several links to the video itself. You can find them on the News and Views forum.

Donna B. also brought word of a full-page color ad in Sunday’s New York Times “Summer Movies” section. The ad is a reproduction of the CATCF movie poster in which the five children appear over Willy Wonka’s top hat; a closeup of Johnny’s face fills the lower half of the poster, as his top hat tips rakishly over one eye. You can find the poster on page 23 of the Arts & Leisure section 2A.

The New York Daily News takes a different approach, with writer Celia McGee doing a feature about recent films based on children’s books. “In the coming months, children and those who think they’re the boss of them have a spate of kiddie fare to look forward to, beginning with Johnny Depp getting sweet and gooey in July’s CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. This is Tim Burton’s version of the Roald Dahl classic about a boy (Freddie Highmore) who gains dangerous access to the Wonka candy empire,” McGee writes. She asked Freddie for his reaction to portraying a classic character. “Obviously, playing the part of Charlie is very special to me,” replied Freddie.

And what is Freddie reading now? “I’ve just finished William Golding’s LORD OF THE FLIES, which for me was brilliant,” replied the 12-year-old. “Anyone who’s been to school (like most of us) knows that a group of kids aimlessly messing about are actually engaged in a constant battle to improve or maintain their position with their peers…. LORD OF THE FLIES answers one of those ‘what if’ questions we all have of ‘what if there were suddenly no rules or law enforcers?'” Clearly Freddie has more in common with his mentor Johnny Depp than just acting talent; he also shares Johnny’s love for a great read. Thanks to Reemi for sharing this charming story. You can read the the full McGee article, which interviews several actors about their favorite books, HERE.