Early in the 1990s, everyone was taken in by the enigmatic tale of a young man with scissors for hands who yearned to fit into a world that saw him as nothing more than a freak. With his iconic portrayal of Edward Scissorhands, Johnny Depp cemented his place as one of the most gifted actors of his generation. However, could you picture Gary Oldman—who made a name for himself in the industry as a true chameleon—playing Edward Scissorhands?
Depp and Oldman are, without a doubt, the two best actors of their generation. The latter might have done a better job than Depp in this particular beloved film. Alternatively, it might have been far worse. In either case, it would have been different, and ardent Edward Scissorhands fans would not have wanted that.
However, it seems Oldman simply did not recognize the role’s potential when he read the script back then.
Edward Scissorhands: Gary Oldman Could Have Played The Part If He Wanted To
Gary Oldman revealed that it was Tim Burton‘s Edward Scissorhands, bringing up the rather unexpected project he had turned down. The actor stated the following during his chat on the Happy Sad Confused podcast:
“I didn’t go and meet him [Tim Burton] because because I didn’t get the script. I read it though, there’s a castle on the hill, and this guy has got scissors, then there’s an Avon lady.. You know, I don’t get it.”
Remorseful, Oldman talked about how he turned down the film because he thought it would never work:
“Yeah..there have been a few that got away but I can’t really talk about them because it’s not fair on the people that ended up doing it. ”
If Oldman had gone ahead and grabbed Johnny Depp’s thunder, the change would have surely had an impact on the whole movie business. Also, we can’t deny that the latter’s career took off thanks to his incredible performance in the $86 million flick Edward Scissorhands.
Gary Oldman Regretted Passing up the Role of Edward Scissorhands?
Gary Oldman talked extensively in a 2016 interview with Larry King about his career and his minor regrets along the way. Out of all the questions about the roles the actor had declined, this one seemed the most intriguing. He was candid during the interview about a particular role he played when he was questioned:
“Ever regret anything you’ve turned down?”
Oldman explained:
“I’ve turned a few things down. I can’t say I ‘regret’. But I couldn’t mention them. I can tell you one story, that they were interested in me, many years ago, for Edward Scissorhands.”
He further added, saying:
“And I read the script and I went, ‘This is ridiculous. A castle at the end of this road and then an Avon lady comes around selling makeup and this kid’s got scissor-hands. This is nuts! I don’t get this at all.’ And I ended up not doing it. I don’t think I even went for a meeting. I just said [to my agents that] ‘It’s not for me. I don’t get it’.”
It goes without saying that a lot of Edward Scissorhands enthusiasts are glad Gary Oldman declined the part. This is not a reflection of Gary’s acting abilities. Conversely, he is definitely among the greatest actors of his generation. Nevertheless, Johnny Depp seemed destined for the acclaimed role.
The 20th Century Fox film garnered favorable reviews from critics and achieved financial success, earning more than four times its $20 million budget.
You can stream Edward Scissorhands on Disney+.
