Why Johnny Depp Was Perfect for Edward Scissorhands

Indeed, it is as if Tom Cruise with the smile was added to the play as Edward Scissorhands instead of the gothic appeal of Johnny Depp.

You might think that is some sort of radical rewriting of history, but they were at one stage doing just that. Of course, such a rendition was vying to be played by top Hollywood actors such as Tom Cruise, but luck and fate led the role to Johnny Depp. 

The Road to Scissorhands: Depp’s Struggle to Break His Heartthrob Image

Johnny Depp, beloved for the films with which he appealed to the teenage audience, decided to surprise the audience and himself. Getting free from the typecasting of ‘Chocolate Boy’ was not a tough call for Depp, but he was well aware if he wanted to carve a niche for himself, he had to go for it. Such a breakthrough role as Edward Scissorhands that could have caused that transformation was created. But the part was not for the taking, and Depp was not the only one who wanted it.

The competition was fierce. For the protagonist’s role, Tim Burton, the director of the show, had several Hollywood elites in mind. Superstars who were tagged involved included Michael Jackson and Tom Hanks; the other nearest contender was Tom Cruise. Cruise, who is a movie ticket magnet, showed some inclination towards the part and had a meeting with Burton over it.

Even the most prominent contender, Depp, stated that he was really scared of other contenders, stating he almost did not attend the auditions. Depp just shrugged and said yes when his agent told him, “Are you crazy?” There was no way of passing on this chance, no matter that some of Hollywood’s most famous faces would be standing in front of him.

A Glimpse into the Past: What If Cruise Had Been Cast?

If Tom Cruise had been chosen for the role of Edward Scissorhands, the character would mold in a completely different manner. Edward could have been a more confident man, maybe more of a traditional hero, more reminiscent of what people associated with Cruise.

But would this have gone through? The value of the movie ‘Edward Scissorhands’ was in Elizabeth’s fragility and loneliness that Depp was able to embody. The public found Edward to be unusually vulnerable through Depp’s acting, which was highly charged in this movie. This is what made the character of Edward Scissorhands one of the most beloved characters of movie history.

The Right Choice: Depp’s Triumph and the Legacy of Edward Scissorhands

All in all, choosing the latter was the right decision on the part of Burton. Although Cruise made a final shot, it was Depp who was a perfect cast for the role, mostly because of his capacity to depict the feeling of loneliness and sadness of the protagonist.

For Johnny Depp, it would prove to be yet another of what could only be described as a career-defining role. He not only left his old image behind but also laid the foundation of his future career, which was built on the principles of accepting only those roles that are quite challenging from others.

Edward Scissorhands marked the pinnacle of Depp’s celebrity status, which has skyrocketed his career to new heights. The film was cult, and the image of Edward Scissorhands became legendary, as did the actor Johnny Depp. This became the start of a great working relationship between Depp and Burton along the lines of other great films.

The Billion-Dollar Club: Depp vs. Cruise

Nonetheless, after all this effort, Depp’s carrier remains analogous to that of Tom Cruise. We are talking about Hollywood, where very few actors have been able to reach the coveted $1 billion mark in the box office.

In fact, Johnny Depp has been able to achieve such a feat a record three times, with his biggest success being the Pirates of the Caribbean series, which grossed over $8.3 billion worldwide. By any measure, it’s a considerable achievement, though when pitted against the domestic totals of Cruise’s current films, it became obvious who the king of the hill is.

At 61 years of age, Tom Cruise continues to be one of the most important and profitable actors in Hollywood. The release of new installments in Top Gun and Mission: It is in this Impossible series that he has cemented his place amongst the superstars in the market.

The gross of these two franchises alone is more than ten thousand dollars in total. 5 billion and more than triples Johnny Depp’s earnings of $3.8 billion, which shows that Chinese actors are increasingly becoming popular among fans. 

Conclusion: Did Burton Make the Right Choice?

More than that, by recalling the general setting of the movie and the main events of the story, it is possible to agree with Tim Burton’s choice of Johnny Depp for the role of Edward Scissorhands.  As for Cruise, his career has remained successful, and he seems to have made up for a miss.

Both actors still remain notable personalities of the movie industry, although they have their own ways of performing. As for Edward Scissorhands, there is no doubt that Johnny Depp was ideal for the job as the leading character.