Sam Mendes to direct Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Musical

Sam Mendes is set to direct a new stage musical adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Ok, let's just clear some things right now – this doesn't mean that 23rd James Bond film is out, it just means that Mendes has announced his next two projects while 007 is on hold. One is a stage version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the other is a film called On Chesil Beach, with Carey Mulligan as possible star. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a children's book by British author Roald Dahl. The story features Dahl's story, first published in 1964, revolves around Charlie Bucket, a nice boy from a poor family, who wins a day-long tour to visit a famous chocolate factory and receive a lifetime supply of chocolate, after he finds one of five “golden tickets” hidden in wrappers of candy bars produced by the factory, presided over by its eccentric owner Willy Wonka. We all know that this story is best known for two film adaptations, first in 1971, where Willy Wonka was played by Gene Wilder, and then in 2005, when Johnny Depp played him for director Tim Burton. And this time new, musical version of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is expected to open in 2011 in London before moving to Broadway. The new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is being produced by Sam and his Neal Street Productions partner Caro Newling, along with Kevin McCormick. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman will continue to pen the songs and David Greig will complete the book, while a designer is being hired to construct the elaborate chocolate factory. Sounds good? Yeah, we thought so! Make sure you stay with us, we'll keep you updated!