Roald Dahl Hated Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

In 1964, Roald Dahl wrote “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, and it became one of the best storytelling books for kids to enjoy, and has been in the bestsellers list, and has printed more than about 302, 300 copies and been sold. In 1971, a musical film adaption entitled “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”, and it became a classic. But there was one person was less impressed with the project itself. And that is the writer of the novel bases for the film, Roald Dahl. Dahl hated Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

But why does Roald Dahl hated the movie? Of course, Dahl, himself, wrote the screenplay for the movie. But the script he wrote was just the first draft. Dahl really hated the “small changes” of the movie. He really hated the actors. Dahl didn’t really care about the film, and also didn’t care about the music in it. Dahl also hated Gene Wilder’s performance, calling it “pretentious” and “gay”, and he wished that either Peter Sellers or Spike Milligan should have been cast instead.

Also in the book, the Oompa Loompas are African-Pygmies, but the filmmakers decided to change their skin to orange, because of the whole slavery of African-Americans that they were trying to fear of. The whole changes to the Oompa Loompas would have disappointed Roald Dahl, and hated the Oompa Loompa versions. Not just that, Dahl also hated that the film title just changed the name from “Charlie” to “Willy Wonka”, as you can see what the film is entitled. Turns out Roald Dahl just wanted it to be just “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and wasn’t expecting a film title “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”. Roald Dahl wrote sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory entitled, “Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator”.

But when the book was released, then Dahl hated Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and vowed to the producers to never try to make or adapt the novels sequel while he was alive. No wonder why we don’t see a movie called “Willy Wonka & the Great Glass Elevator”. But in 2005, Tim Burton, however, decided to remake the 1971 film, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, but changed the name from the same name of the book that Dahl wrote. Roald Dahl, of course, died in 1990. But would have Dahl enjoyed the remake, and gave a thumbs up? We don’t know, but we wished we knew.

There was also a musical play entitled, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, that was released in 2013. And yes, it is the same name of the book itself. Roald Dahl would have enjoyed both of them.