 Albert Finney (qv) was the leading choice to play Grandpa Joe in  _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)_ (qv) but when  Tim Burton (I) (qv) was attached he nixed the idea because the  only big name he wanted in the movie was Johnny Depp (qv). So Tim  cast Albert in this movie to apologize. Tim Burton reportedly  offered a role to Sam Neill (qv), who turned it down.