Overview

• In an August 2025 conversation cited by multiple outlets, Oldman said he was on Tim Burton’s small shortlist but declined after reading the “quirky” script and telling his agent, “I don’t get it.”
• He added that he never met Burton for the part and only understood the filmmaker’s vision when he later saw the movie in theaters and had an immediate “I get it” reaction to the opening shots.
• The role went to Johnny Depp, and Edward Scissorhands became a hit, grossing over $86 million on a $20 million budget and earning Depp a Golden Globe nomination.
• Coverage revisits prior reports that other contenders included Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Jim Carrey, and John Cusack.
• The remarks, first published by The Hollywood Reporter and picked up on Aug. 18–19, have sparked a fresh look at near-miss casting choices and how they shape careers.