Making a movie is a tough business that has a lot of moving pieces. So many things need to go right and fall into place for a movie to be made in the first place, and so long as everything is in order, the film has a chance to succeed. Needless to say, casting is of the utmost importance when making a movie, and over the years, Johnny Depp has been considered for some truly remarkable roles.
Sometimes, a performer bows out of a role and opens up the door for someone else to slide in and hold it down. Other times, the movie studio that is considering them realizes that they should probably go in a different direction. No matter how it goes down, casting is tricky, and Johnny Depp knows a thing or two about this.
Today, we are going to look at roles that Johnny Depp either passed on or was passed up for.
15 Turned Down: Sin City Was Depp's To Take Before He Turned It Down
Sin City is a movie based on the graphic novel, and its noir feel and darker tone wound up making it a film that people had to see. Johnny Depp had the role of Jackie Boy in the bag, but he wound up declining due to a prior commitment. Benicio Del Toro got the job.
14 Turned Down: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Could Have Seen Depp In The Iconic Lead Role
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is one of the most famous films to come out of the 80s, and Matthew Broderick rocketed to stardom thanks to the film. Depp has stated that he had this movie role locked down, but he was unavailable for shooting at the time, allowing Broderick to slide in.
13 Rejected: Bram Stoker's Dracula Decided To Pass On Depp
Bram Stoker’s Dracula may not be the best vampire movie ever made, but it has maintained a following throughout the years. Johnny Depp was in early consideration for the role of Jonathan Harker, but the movie studio decided to put the kibosh on that idea, allowing for Keanu Reeves to take it instead.
12 Turned Down: Speed Could Have Made Depp An Action Star
Speed wound up becoming one of the biggest action movies of the 90s, and it remains a classic from the decade. This was a role that was offered to Johnny Depp, but he turned it down. Keanu Reeves took the job and wound up bolstering his star power in a hurry.
11 Turned Down: The Matrix Could Have Had Johnny Depp As Neo
The Matrix was an action film that came along and completely changed the game as we were entering a new millennium. Keanu Reeves clearly owes Johnny Depp a huge thank you, as he was able to make a massive fortune and become a powerhouse star thanks to movies like this one.
10 Rejected: The Rainmaker Passed On Depp Due To His Lack Of Fame
The Rainmaker is not as popular as some of the other movies that have appeared on this list, but this was another role that Johnny Depp lost out on. He was in early consideration for the role, but Matt Damon was a bigger star at that point, which got him the job.
9 Turned Down: Backdraft Cast William Baldwin After Depp Declined
Backdraft was a pretty big hit at the beginning of the 90s, and William Baldwin was able to land the role of a lifetime in the flick. Johnny Depp was all geared up to star in the movie, but he wound up turning it down. This was a missed opportunity to get a hit early in his career.
8 Rejected: Pulp Fiction Had Depp Pegged For The Role Of Pumpkin
Pulp Fiction is one of the greatest films ever made, and this film helped launch Quentin Tarantino into the mainstream. It has been said that Johnny Depp was considered for the role of Pumpkin in the film, but it wound up going to Tim Roth, who did an amazing job.
7 Rejected: The Rocketeer Was Interested In Depp To Play Its Hero
The Rocketeer is a 90s film that was based on the comic book character of the same name. The film was not a hit by any means, but it could have been a big chance for Depp. He was nearly cast as the lead, but the role went to Billy Campbell.
6 Turned Down: Interview With The Vampire Benefitted From Depp Moving On
Interview with the Vampire was a huge hit in the 90s, and it saw both Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise excel in their roles. Johnny Depp was in the running to play the character Lestat, but he wound up turning down the movie. Tom Cruise took over and made the most of it.
