by Johnny Depp: A Look at the Actor’s Cancelled Projects
Johnny Depp is one of Hollywood’s most celebrated and bankable actors, known for his versatile and transformative roles in films like Edward Scissorhands, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, Depp’s prolific career has also been marked by numerous projects that he signed on to but ultimately never appeared in. While a definitive list is difficult to compile, several of Depp’s cancelled or abandoned films have been reported over the years. Let’s explore some of the major movie roles Depp was once attached to but never ended up playing.
The Invisible Man (1997)
One of Depp’s earliest reported dropped roles was a remake of the 1933 classic The Invisible Man. In 1997, Depp was attached to star in and produce the film for Universal Pictures. However, creative differences arose between Depp and the studio, and he eventually left the project. The Invisible Man was eventually remade in 2020 with Elisabeth Moss in the title role.
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2000)
Depp was originally set to star in Terry Gilliam’s long-gestating film The Man Who Killed Don Quixote in 2000. However, production issues and creative differences led to Depp dropping out after just one week of filming. The film would go through numerous iterations over the next two decades before finally being released in 2018 with Jonathan Pryce and Adam Driver in the lead roles.
The Mad Hatter (2008)
Though Depp ultimately played the iconic role of the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, he was originally attached to portray the character nearly two decades earlier for a planned 1990 film adaptation that never came to fruition. Depp’s version of the Mad Hatter wouldn’t hit screens until Burton’s 2010 film.
The Rum Diary (2009)
Depp was originally set to play journalist Paul Kemp in the film adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s novel The Rum Diary back in 1998. However, production delays pushed the film’s release back by over a decade. Depp finally got to portray Kemp in the 2009 film, over a decade after first being attached to the role.
The Thin Man (2010s)
Depp was reportedly in talks throughout the 2010s to revive the Thin Man film series in a contemporary remake. However, the project never moved past the planning stages, and Depp never ended up playing the role of Nick Charles that made William Powell a star in the 1930s films.
The Wolfman (2010)
Depp was originally cast as Lawrence Talbot/The Wolfman in a remake planned by Universal Pictures in the 2000s. However, Depp dropped out in 2009 due to the film’s tight production schedule, and the role ultimately went to Benicio del Toro.
So while a definitive list of every abandoned Depp project remains elusive, these examples illustrate the complex nature of film development in Hollywood. Numerous factors – from creative differences to scheduling issues – contribute to actors leaving projects before they come to fruition. But Depp fans can still appreciate glimpses into what might have been through reports of the actor’s cancelled films, offering a fascinating look at one of cinema’s most enduring icons.
