The Impact of Edward Scissorhands: Lily-Rose Depp's Emotional Connection and the Stars Who Almost Played the Iconic Role

  • 06-01-2025 |
  • Courtney Millhouse

In the realm of cinema, countless noteworthy performances have initially been turned down by prominent stars. Renowned actors such as Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks have missed significant opportunities in their careers. However, this might have been beneficial in some instances, including a particular film that had profound effects on Lily-Rose Depp.

One viewing of her father’s cherished film became a distressing memory for her. What was this film and what role stirred such intense feelings in the actress? Let’s delve deeper.

The movie that made a significant impact on Lily-Rose Depp

Currently, Lily-Rose Depp is crafting her own career in the film industry, but her upbringing was anything but typical. Being the child of Johnny Depp, widely regarded as one of the most captivating performers of this generation, the Nosferatu actress had to experience films featuring her father. However, one of those films nearly caused her emotional turmoil. During a conversation with a magazine, she shared her experience of watching Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands.

She expressed her deep emotional impact from the film, not due to fear of her father’s character but because of the way others treated him in the story. The animosity directed at her father’s character profoundly upset her.

As a child, she struggled to grasp the dynamics of storytelling, leaving her confused about why her father was not received kindly by others in the film. The climax further intensified her emotions, leading her to feel anxious about how the townsfolk turned against Edward.

She recalled feeling a sense of terror from this, which is unusual as her early memories are quite limited. This remains a challenging recollection from her younger years. She identified Edward as the hero but also felt empathetic towards characters that society deemed as antagonists, questioning whether it was unusual to think that way.

She also noted similarities with her recent film, a gothic feature by Robert Eggers. It remains to be seen if this new project can achieve the level of fame that Edward Scissorhands brought to Johnny Depp.

Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, and several famous personalities turned down Edward Scissorhands

Prior to Johnny Depp stepping into the role of Edward, numerous well-known actors were in consideration. Tom Cruise was one of the early candidates, particularly due to his strong box-office appeal following successful action films. However, the director aimed for a lesser-known face for the leading role.

Tom Hanks, another iconic figure known for classics like Cast Away and Forrest Gump, opted to decline the project in favor of The Bonfire of the Vanities. Had either of these actors accepted the role, it might have transformed Edward Scissorhands into a more conventional commercial film.

Other notable figures such as Gary Oldman, Jim Carrey, and even Michael Jackson were in discussion for the lead role, but ultimately, it was Johnny Depp who truly embodied the character of Edward. Despite having minimal dialogue, his expressive performance turned Edward into an unforgettable figure in cinematic history.