Johnny Depp rose to fame as Edward Scissorhands in Tim Burton’s 1990 film of the same name. However, Depp was among several actors who auditioned for the role of Edward, the reclusive humanoid. Other stars considered were Tom Hanks, Gary Oldman, Tom Cruise, and even Jim Carrey. Carrey was a fairly unknown actor at the time. He did not act in any of his three critically acclaimed 1994 films: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, or Dumb and Dumber.
Johnny Depp And Jim Carrey’s Professional Paths Have Crossed Many Times
Jim Carrey lost the starring part of Edward to Cruise. His endlessly strange queries regarding Edward’s eating and potty habits cost The Top Gun actor the movie. Depp took over for Cruise, but in a 1999 interview with Charlie Rose, he said the biggest “frightening moment” of his career was when he thought Tom Hanks might take his position. Carrey’s selection as Edward Scissorhands wasn’t the last time the former Pirates of the Caribbean actor lost a position to Depp.
Johnny Depp And The Pirates Of The Caribbean
Depp, the erstwhile adolescent star, has broadened his career beyond Burton’s many partnerships. As a result, he got the role of Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean film series, beginning with the first episode, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, released in 2003. Many prominent names were in the race for the part of Captain Jack, much as they were for Edward Scissorhands.
Michael Keaton, Christopher Walken, Cary Elwes, and possibly Robert De Niro were among the many potential Jacks. While it’s difficult to imagine the often Martin Scorsese star, who is known for playing criminals, in a movie about swashbuckling pirates, De Niro declined the job. The actor from Goodfellas wasn’t certain that the picture would be commercially successful. De Niro was eventually proved to be incorrect.
Jim Carrey In The Pirates Of The Caribbean
This time, things were different as Carrey almost secured a major role, but it went to Depp in the end. Carrey has auditioned for the position of Jack Sparrow and he was also the first choice. Unfortunately, owing to a scheduling clash with his 2003 feature Bruce Almighty, he had to decline the part. Given his slapstick comic tendency, which may have clashed with Jack Sparrow’s demeanor, Carrey’s decision was perhaps for the best.
In the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Depp produced a fantastic performance all around. Carrey was also entertaining to watch in the next year’s films Bruce Almighty as well as Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Given that Carrey did not return for the sequel to The Mask, a long-term commitment to a character such as Jack Sparrow was not for him. Carrey will, however, reprise his role as Doctor Eggman in the forthcoming Sonic the Hedgehog sequels.
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