There’s an old saying which runs, “You can’t remake a classic.” Another good saying is, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I don’t think either of these two expressions has ever been uttered in the film industry. For the past few decades, the motto seems to have been, “If it worked once, it can work again ... and again ... and again.” Whether through remixes, spin offs, or countless sequels, Hollywood of today would clearly much rather continue an existing theme than come up with something original.
One of the most anticipated films being released this holiday season is “Wonka.” As the title implies, this Warner Brothers film is a prequel to the beloved “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” from 1971, based on Roald Dahl’s children’s book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Timothée Chalamet takes over for Gene Wilder in the title character, and the producer behind the “Harry Potter” films produced it. Although it could have taken a darker approach to his backstory, this production opted to remain a musical geared toward families.
