CROP GUN

What a different place the world would be if the casting directors of 'Edward Scissorhands' had gone with their first choice of actor for the role instead of the lovely Johnny Depp. Johnny is forthright on the fact that he was not the original choice, with the movie company wanting a more established star.

Depp was terrific in the part that made him into a star, but it could have been oh-so-different, as he explained:

“They were interested in me for the part, but had someone else in mind too. A few days later, they called me to say the studio preferred the other actor. Tom Cruise. I was really disappointed.
From the moment I read the script, I knew I had to be in it. But I understood that the studio wanted a box office superstar. Then a miracle happened. My agent called to say they wanted me instead.”

A miracle? Or maybe they just spoke to Cruise and realised that he was rather better at flashing that toothy grin and playing small men with Napoleon complexes.

Sadly, it means that we were denied the sight of Tom playing Captain Jack Sparrow, the intergalactic pirate desperate to plunder the booty of evil alien intergalactic warlords whilst their backs were turned.

Though if the roles were reversed I'm sure Johnny would have made a far more convincing lover for Nicole Kidman in 'Eyes Wide Shut' than Tom ever managed.