Freddie Highmore discovers the Golden Ticket

Posted Friday, May 21, 2004 at 11:50 AM Central

by John Couture

In the most anticipated casting announcement since Daniel Radcliffe was named Harry Potter, Warner Bros. confirmed that relative unknown Freddie Highmore has been cast as Charlie Bucket in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Unlike Radcliffe, Freddie Highmore has a few more movies on his resume, including the upcoming J.M. Barrie's Neverland with Kate Winslet and Willy Wonka himself Johnny Depp. If you're wondering how the two will look together on the big screen, check out the picture above for a glance of Depp and Highmore in action in J.M. Barrie's Neverland.

So who does Freddie have to thank for this golden opportunity? Why, fellow J.M. Barrie's Neverland co-star Kate Winslet, who reportedly suggested Highmore to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory producer Richard Zanuck.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory begins filming this Summer at London's famous Pinewood Studios. The film is tentatively on the schedule for a Summer 2005 release.