Johnny Depp has revealed the actors he triumphed over to land one of his most iconic roles.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star, who has faced controversy in recent years, was a major Hollywood actor during the 90s and 2000s, and collaborated with director Tim Burton on multiple films.
One of these films was Edward Scissorhands, which catapulted Depp to stardom. At the time, Depp’s resume included the TV show 21 Jump Street, minor roles in A Nightmare on Elm Street and Platoon, and a leading role in John Waters’s Cry-Baby.
However, Depp, who was determined not to be typecast as a teen heartthrob, actively campaigned for the lead role in Burton’s 1994 film about an unfinished artificial humanoid with scissor blades for hands, who is taken in by a suburban family.
According to Depp, several other actors, including Tom Hanks and Michael Jackson, were considered for the role. But there was one actor who came close to snatching the part away from him: Tom Cruise.
According to People, Johnny Depp revealed in a new documentary series about Tim Burton that Tom Cruise was considered for the role of Edward Scissorhands. Depp admitted that he initially believed he wouldn’t be cast in the role because there was intense competition for it in Hollywood. He even called his agent and told them to cancel the meeting for the audition. Depp’s agent thought he was crazy and told him not to give up on the opportunity. Depp explained that at the time, there was a stigma around TV actors transitioning to film roles. Tim Burton had also mentioned that Fox suggested meeting with Cruise, who was enjoying a string of successful films at the time, but ultimately, Burton wasn’t convinced that Cruise was the right fit for the character.
According to reports, Burton stated, “He certainly wasn’t my ideal, but I talked to him. He was interesting, but I think it worked out for the best.” This was in response to Depp’s recent claim. However, it is believed that Hanks was actually closer to the role than Cruise. Reports suggest that Hanks was offered the role but turned it down to star in Brian De Palma’s infamous flop, The Bonfire of the Vanities.
Other actors who were considered for the role included Gary Oldman, who declined the offer, as well as John Cusack, William Hurt, and Robert Downey Jr.
Reflecting on the role that eventually earned him his first Golden Globe nomination, Depp said, “It passed through everything, anything, solid and went to the very core of whatever I am. The writing was beautiful. The character was beautiful. What emotionally attracted me was that Edward was me. It’s exactly what I should be doing.”