10 Fascinating WWE Backstage Facts About The Rock
4. He Nearly Played Willy Wonka In Tim Burton's Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
Yes, this sounds absolutely absurd, but it comes straight from the horse's mouth. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson was in talks with Tim Burton during the early 2000s to take on the role of the maniacal chocolatier in the Warner Bros. remake. He discussed this on his Instagram account, revealing that it came when he first made moves in Hollywood.
The Rock's time in WWE shaped who he was, but after a while, he ended up being charmed by the bright lights of the silver screen. Johnson stayed in the promotion until 2004 when he would let his contract expire and would pursue acting full-time.
Johnson alleged that Burton was heavily considering him for the role of Willy Wonka during this transitional period, with the movie released in 2005. But, of course, the part would ultimately end up going to Johnny Depp. Johnson reflected on this by stating that it was the right choice and that he wasn't ready for such a role at the time.
If this had gone forward, then the correct answer when it came to smelling what The Rock was cooking would almost undoubtedly have been chocolate.