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Johnny Depp is easily the kingpin of assorted, unconventional films so spellbinding that one would think they’ve been transported to an entirely different world, be it one with notorious pirates or peculiar Ooma Loompas. But one of his most iconic projects had neither drunken sea adventures nor a whimsical chocolate factory owner, it had a synthetic man with scissors for hands, a role which, incidentally enough, Depp feared would be stolen from him by yet another A-lister, Tom Hanks.

Johnny Depp

Edward Scissorhands – Johnny Depp Fretted Losing to Tom Hanks

Back when Johnny Depp was working on the fantasy romance with Winona Ryder, Tom Hanks, with his unprecedented charm and commendable talent, was busy priming for the Oscar wins that awaited him a few years down the line. Depp, however, was under the impression that the Forrest Gump star was occupied with one and one thing only – pilfering the leading role in Edward Scissorhands that he’d bagged after many toils.

It didn’t matter that he’d already conquered the likes of Tom Cruise and Robert Downey Jr. to play the eponymous character in the ’90s movie, the Donnie Brasco star was convinced the 67-year-old actor/filmmaker would swoop in and steal his place.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Back when they were filming Edward Scissorhands, the crew was residing in a resort akin to a country club. So, when two girls came knocking on Depp’s door one afternoon when everyone else was engaged in rehearsals, the Alice in Wonderland star mistook them for fans who wanted his autograph. But, as it turned out, the girls in question were hoping to meet Hanks because they held the false conviction that he lived at that very resort.

“So, I opened the door and said, ‘How do you do?’ [to the girls] and they said, ‘Hi. Is Tom Hanks here? Does he live here?’ I said, ‘What? No. Not yet.’ And I was convinced that Hanks would be replacing me. I was convinced. It was one of the most frightening moments in my career.”

And well, it didn’t take long for Depp to spiral and ultimately make the worst of the situation in his head.

Working in Tim Burton Films Wasn’t Always A Piece of Cake

While Edward Scissorhands would later become the bedrock for his thriving relationship with a prolific filmmaker like Tim Burton, the 60-year-old actor had his misgivings when they first collaborated, a sharp fear of being replaceable burrowed deep within his insecurities.

Part of the reason behind Depp’s apprehensions was the fact that whenever he’d work with Burton, everyone but him on the cast would end up rehearsing, which eventually planted the seed of self-doubt. And it wasn’t just the 1990 cult classic that made him feel like he was just two steps from being fired, the three-time Academy Award nominee experienced that uncertainty even during Ed Wood (1994) and Sleepy Hollow (1999).

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton

Gradually, however, Depp and Burton would come to establish an unrivaled equation with the duo going to make a total of eight films together. And as for his film with Ryder, well, it turned out to be a critical and commercial triumph, so it was a win for everyone at the end of the day.

Edward Scissorhands can be streamed on Max or can be rented/purchased on Apple Tv+.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter