The Role: Before Johnny Depp secured the Willy Wonka role that was previously immortalised so memorably by Gene Wilder (because who else was Tim Burton ever really going to pick?), Sandler's name was in contention alongside a litany of other esteemed comic actors, including Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, Will Smith, Mike Myers, Dwayne Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Dustin Hoffman, Bill Murray, and even Marilyn Manson. Sandler wasn't ultimately picked, and just as well... Why He Would've Ruined The Movie: Though Depp's portrayal was divisive and incredibly eccentric, it's not exactly easy to think of Sandler having the restraint not to turn his Wonka into a loud-mouthed, annoying ingrate, and moreover, he just doesn't have the Willy Wonka "look", no matter how much make-up they would've caked him in to convince audiences otherwise. Though Depp and Burton's pairings have become overly safe and tedious these days, back in 2005 this film reflected the pair at the height of their creative synergy, and so it totally makes sense that they would team together on such an iconic project. Sandler likely wouldn't have formed the same connection with the director, and the results surely wouldn't have served up the $475 million box office gross that Depp's portrayal did.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
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