Tom Cruise as Edward Scissorhands? Why did Tim Burton finally prefer Johnny Depp?

Johnny Depp owes his first film success to Wes Craven, who cast him in Freddy – Chapter 1: Nightclaws after seeing his daughter’s reaction when he met the young actress. However, if there is one role that launched his career, it was as Edward in Edward Scissorhands.

The film not only made him a popular actor, but also started a close relationship with director Tim Burton, with whom Johnny Depp It worked many times. However, despite being the director’s favorite for the lead role in the cult 1990 gothic fantasy film, Tim Burton had to move from one actor to another before finally being able to engage Johnny Depp.

As the latter revealed, he beat out some of the biggest names in film (and music): we’re talking Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise and even Michael Jackson for his iconic role. But that’s first and foremost Tom Cruise which was difficult for him.

Indeed, while Winona Ryder and Dianne Wiest were the first to join the castEdward ScissorhandsThe search for a hero has become more difficult. Tim Burton brought in screenwriter Caroline Thompson to adapt his idea, and Fox insisted on it Tim Burton familiarity Tom Cruise.

Interview for a dedicated documentary series Tim Burton (via People), Johnny Depp Director Tara Wood told him about it Tom Cruise “It was close to playing Edward Scissorhands – true story.”

However, the Top Gun star failed to convince the director. As ScreenRant reports, the meeting between Burton and Cruise did not go well. The actor allegedly asked questions that the director considered irrelevant. In addition, it seems that he wanted to change the ending of the film to a more cheerful one, because the one created by Burton seemed too melancholic.

“ Ask questions about a character that cannot be asked of that character“, said the screenwriter Caroline Thompson Dazed in 2015 for the film’s anniversary. “Part of the delicacy of the story was answering questions like, “How does he go to the bathroom? How did he manage to live without food all these years?’ Tom Cruise, of course, did not want to participate in the film without answering these questions.“

Tim Burton announced: “It was interesting, but I think it worked well in the end. He had many questions.“

Goodbye Tom Cruise!

Tom Cruise Out of the question, it was time to continue the search to find someone to play the hero. Tom Hanks And Gary Oldman would turn down the offer: the first to star in The Bonfire of the Vanities, and the second because he found the story absurd. Jim Carrey and John Cusack were also considered for the role, as were Robert Downey Jr., William Hurt and Michael Jackson who in turn showed interest.

But it is ultimately young Johnny Depp who took on the role of a romantic outcast created by a scientist (Vincent Price) who died before he could complete the work. Thus, Edward, his name, turns out to have scissors in his hands. He will live alone until Peg (Diane Wiest) finds him and welcomes him to his suburban home, where he falls in love with his daughter (Winona Ryder) and threatens to be ostracized by society.

for that Johnny DeppBurton and Thompson’s script was made for him. “ Went through anything and everything, solid and got to the heart of who I am. The writing was beautiful. The character was brilliant. I could tell that Edward was me. This is exactly what I had to play.“

After being at 21 Jump Street from 1987 to 1990, Johnny Depp really felt”catalog“As a teenage idol. he”had to fight“Against that title, noted that her starring role in John Waters’ 1990 cult classic, Cry-Baby, “was the first solid step in the direction he wanted to go.“

But given his rising star status Tim Burton After Pee-Wee Big Adventure (1985) and Beetlejuice (1988), as well as Hollywood’s interest in the project, Johnny Depp thought: “He will never choose me when he pursues every role in Hollywood.“

“Tim is really juggling because he’s being criticized by the agent, the studio, everyone. So after I read the script, I called my agent and said, “Please cancel the meeting, I’m not going.”“, he remembered Johnny Depp. “He said, “Are you completely crazy?”“

He continued: “It was weird because you always have this bastard in your head saying, “Come on man, you’re a TV actor.” Because at that time it was almost one or the other.“

then Johnny Depp has “finally gave up” and met Tim BurtonShe landed the role, which eventually earned her her first Golden Globe nomination. The rest is history.

Since then, he has worked with the director on Ed Wood (1994), Sleepy Hollow: The Legend of the Headless Horseman (1999), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), The Funeral Wedding (2005), Sweeney Todd, the Devilish. The Barber of Fleet Street (2007), Alice in Wonderland (2010) and Dark Shadows (2012).

The documentary series is dedicated to Tim BurtonThe as-yet-untitled film premiered on June 10 at the Tribeca Film Festival.

While you wait to discover it, you can rediscover Edward Scissorhands streaming on Disney+.