Since Gene Wilder beguiled us with his scary but sincere chocolatier in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, new interpretations of Roald Dahl’s children’s classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory have emerged to offer us a delicious mix of fable and fantasy. They include Tim Burton’s striking 2005 film, a 2013 Broadway musical and Wonka, an origin story starring Timothée Chalamet that’s due in theaters Dec. 15, 2023. But what is it about Willy Wonka and his complicated but wonderful world that keeps us intrigued? Is it the story? The visuals? Or just the very relatable hope that we all have a chance at winning a Golden Ticket that will change our lives? In this savory, photo-filled issue, we explore what each take on Dahl’s 1964 novel adds to the lore and why we, the audience, continue to seek out every colorful adventure.