Johnny Depp’s rise to stardom was marked by his initial reluctance to embrace fame. Despite his efforts to avoid mainstream popularity, he eventually accepted his status as a major figure in Hollywood.
Before his breakthrough on “21 Jump Street,” Depp had already appeared in the horror classic “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and the Oscar-winning war film “Platoon.” However, he never seemed thrilled about being seen as a heartthrob and sex symbol. After leaving his contract with “21 Jump Street,” Depp established himself as an eccentric maverick in independent cinema, avoiding big-budget productions and major roles. This changed when he starred in “Pirates of the Caribbean,” making him the highest-paid actor in Hollywood.
Ironically, the role that first set him on this path, Edward Scissorhands, could have gone to a bigger star. In the early 1990s, competing against Tom Cruise for a lead role directed by someone fresh off a blockbuster would usually mean certain defeat. Fortunately for Depp, Cruise asked too many questions about the character, leading to his rejection. Depp, in one of his first leading roles, developed a strong connection with director Tim Burton, earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, and saw his career reach new heights.
In an interview with Tom Burke, Depp admitted he was surprised to win the role over Cruise. “I couldn’t believe it. The script was one of the top five things I ever read—any story, novel, anything—but I thought I had no chance,” he said.
“Who wouldn’t want Tom Cruise in their movie? Automatic box office.”
While Cruise was concerned with the logistics of Edward Scissorhands, Depp focused on the story’s lore. “Tim and I felt the same way about the story,” Depp continued. “That it’s a classic fable, a metaphor, like Beauty and the Beast. It’s my Wizard of Oz. It fascinated me that Edward wasn’t human, that he had the innocence and trust of a child, but instead of hands he had these long, lethal shears. What he loved, he couldn’t touch.”
It’s now impossible to imagine anyone but Depp as Edward Scissorhands, a role that has become inseparable from his identity.
