Summary
- Tim Burton’s 2012 film “Frankenweenie” broke a nine-year streak between the director and actor Johnny Depp.
- Johnny Depp had been cast in all of Burton’s movies for nearly a decade until “Frankenweenie” broke the streak.
- There are theories as to why Depp was not cast in “Frankenweenie,” including the possibility that he needed a break from multiple film projects or that the director did not want any vocal overlap with Depp’s previous Burton character.
Over the years, Tim Burton has been the director at the head of some truly iconic films, from 1985’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure all the way to the upcoming Beetlejuice 2 in 2024, however, Burton’s 2012 animated film Frankenweenie was unique because it broke a nine-year streak between the director and actor Johnny Depp. While Tim Burton has made a name for himself through his unique gothic atmospheres and stories, another major aspect of Burton’s reputation is his relationship with actor Johnny Depp. For nine years, Burton cast Depp in every movie he made, however, Frankenweenie broke that streak.
It is no secret that there are several actors that appear most in Tim Burton movies. Helena Bonham Carter, Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, and composer Danny Elfman are all individuals that Burton often works with, as seen by his filmography. However, the actor that ranks above them all is Johnny Depp. Though he appeared in previous Burton films, starting in 2005, Depp starred in all of Tim Burton’s movies for nearly a decade. Depp was cast in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Alice in Wonderland, and Dark Shadows. Ultimately, 2012’s Frankenweenie changed everything.
Frankenweenie Was Tim Burton’s First Movie Without Johnny Depp Since Big Fish
Despite the fact that Johnny Depp held an impressive film streak with Tim Burton, the director ultimately did not cast the actor in Frankenweenie. This change is pretty significant due to the longevity of their collaboration, and it raises the question as to why Depp wasn’t included in this project. This question is especially important considering that, even before Depp and Burton’s 9-year streak, the actor appeared in some of Burton’s biggest films like Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow. What reason came up that kept Depp from continuing his almost decade-long partnership with Burton?
Though there is no clear answer as to why Johnny Depp didn’t appear in Frankenweenie, there are some strong theories. Although 2012 wasn’t a particular busy year for Depp, he was just coming off of many years of making several movies at once. Depp was collaborating with Burton since 2005, but he was also working on the Pirates of Caribbean franchise at the same time. Perhaps Depp decided that he needed a break. Another possibility is that, since Depp had already voiced a Tim Burton character in Corpse Bride, the director didn’t want any vocal overlap.
Why Johnny Depp & Tim Burton Still Haven’t Collaborated Since Before Frankenweenie
Johnny Depp’s absence from Frankenweenie isn’t the only lapse in the duo’s partnership. Since Frankenweenie’s 2012 release, Depp and Burton haven’t worked together at all. Burton has released three films after Frankenweenie and Depp has appeared in 21. Ultimately, it seems as though the pair have simply taken different creative paths. Depp has clearly remained active, pursuing bigger franchises whereas Burton has slowed down, also experimenting with bigger and more popular projects. Though Frankenweenie changed a long trend between Depp and Burton, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the two will never collaborate again. Someday, the right project may just bring Tim Burton and Johnny Depp together again.
