The 1990 fantasy romance film Edward Scissorhands is considered one of director Tim Burton’s greatest achievements. The film starred Johnny Depp in arguably his breakthrough role, which also began his long-term collaboration with Burton and broke away from his prior teen heartthrob reputation. While Depp gave a stellar performance in the lead role as a shy humanoid named Edward, who had scissors for hands, he was just one of the many actors considered for the part. The search for the ideal Edward was initially unsuccessful after actors like Tom Hanks and Gary Oldman turned down the role.
At one point, Depp was even worried he would be replaced by Hanks, in fear he wouldn’t meet Burton’s expectations on-screen. In the same 1999 interview on Charlie Rose, Depp recalled that possibility as the “most frightening moment of his career.” In addition to Hanks, Oldman, widely known for his role as Sirius Black in Harry Potter, was in the extensive line-up of prospective Edwards. Considering the sci-fi nature of the film, Oldman turned down the role because he initially just couldn’t comprehend the plot. However, the Harry Potter actor shared his regrets of missing out on the film in a 2016 interview with Larry King when he revealed he understood the film “too late” after watching the first two minutes of it.
After various frustrating casting issues to find the perfect Edward, it seemed like the casting team finally struck gold after they recruited Tom Cruise. Cruise gained recognition as one of film’s greatest action stars for his lead role as Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the 1986 film Top Gun, which was recently ordered for a 2022 sequel. Edward Scissorhands writer Caroline Thompson revealed in an interview with Business Insider that her first and only choice was John Cusack for Edward. However, the crew brought in Cruise and his aggravating behind-the-scenes antics that led to his departure from the film.
Thompson recalled Cruise’s incessant questions directed towards Burton on how Edward can use the bathroom or eat with his giant scissor hands in a 2015 interview with Dazed Digital. In the same interview, she also shared how Cruise was “unwilling to be in the movie without those questions being answered.” Therefore, the future Mission Impossible star and his curious thoughts left the production.
Burton revealed in the 2008 novel Burton on Burton Cruise “wasn’t his ideal,” but that it had worked out for the best. Thankfully for Edward Scissorhands fans, everything came together for good, and Winona Ryder and Depp were both flawless in their respective roles. Frankly, how could Maverick have played the introverted Edward anyways?
About The Author
