Hollywood star Brian Cox’s take on Johnny Depp’s iconic role in the 1990 classic Edward Scissorhands suggests that Tom Cruise dodged a bullet.

Despite the massive success of Tim Burton’s 1990 film Edward Scissorhands, Brian Cox has a unique take on its leading star, Johnny Depp. The film features Depp as the titular character, a synthetic man with scissors for hands who is taken in by a kind lady, only to face a series of unfortunate events after being wrongfully accused of a crime.

However, despite being one of the most diverse roles of his career, the Succession star believes that Depp didn’t have to exert much effort, implying that the character’s striking appearance did most of the heavy lifting.

Brian Cox Critiqued Johnny Depp’s Role in Edward Scissorhands

Known for his distinctive and memorable roles, such as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp has become one of the most acclaimed actors in Hollywood.

Johnny Depp | Credit: Gage Skidmore/CCA BY-SA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

While he has earned widespread acclaim with his on-screen performances, Brian Cox believes that Depp’s characters and their portrayal rely heavily on their striking appearance and less on acting.

Talking about the Pirates of the Caribbean role that he rejected, Cox told The Guardian in an interview, that he turned down the role of governor of Port Royal, a part that eventually went to Jonathan Pryce.

And he described it as ungrateful and overshadowed by Depp’s portrayal of Jack Sparrow. “It would have been a moneyspinner but, of all the parts in the film, it was the most thankless,” he said. Further talking about Depp, he shared,

Depp, personable though I’m sure he is, is so overblown – I mean Edward Scissorhands! Let’s face it, if you come on with hands like that and pale, scarred-face makeup, you don’t have to do anything. And he didn’t.

Brian Cox in Succession | Credit: HBO

The Braveheart actor said that although Depp is charming and likable, he implied that Depp’s character’s distinctive appearance, rather than his acting, played a significant role in the film’s iconic status.

Tom Cruise Missed Out on Landing the Lead Role in Edward Scissorhands

Before Johnny Depp secured the titular role in Tim Burton’s 1990 film Edward Scissorhands, several Hollywood stars, including Tom Hanks, Michael Jackson, and Tom Cruise, were also considered for the part.

Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands | Credit: 20th Century Fox

Depp even revealed that the Top Gun star “was not far away from actually playing Edward Scissorhands,” as per People. He shared that he was emotionally drawn to the script and character.

Despite that, he was initially reluctant to audition for the role due to the high-profile competition. However, after his agent insisted, he decided to meet with the acclaimed filmmaker.

“[Cruise] certainly wasn’t my ideal, but I talked to him,” Burton said in Tara Wood’s untitled documentary. He suggested that while the action star would have been a good choice, Depp ultimately was a better fit.

Tom Cruise | Credit: Dick Thomas Johnson/CCA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

The movie also marked the beginning of Depp’s long collaboration with Burton, leading to projects like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland, and Sleepy Hollow.

Cruise, now celebrated for his versatile performances and extreme stunts, might not regret missing out on the 1990 classic, especially in light of Brian Cox’s recent comments.

Edward Scissorhands is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video.