In the early 1990s, the captivating story of a young man with scissors for hands took the world by storm. This tale followed his longing to fit into a society that saw him as nothing more than a freak. Johnny Depp's iconic portrayal of Edward Scissorhands solidified his position as one of the most talented actors of his generation. However, have you ever considered what it would have been like if Gary Oldman, known for his chameleon-like abilities, had taken on the role?

Depp and Oldman are undoubtedly two of the greatest actors of their time. Oldman may have even outperformed Depp in this beloved film, or perhaps it could have turned out far worse.

Either way, it would have been a different experience, and die-hard Edward Scissorhands fans would not have wanted that. However, it appears that Oldman simply did not grasp the potential of the role when he initially read the script.

During an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gary Oldman revealed that he had turned down the opportunity to play Edward Scissorhands for Tim Burton. He stated that he did not meet with Burton because he didn't fully understand the script. Oldman explained, "There's a castle on the hill, and this guy has got scissors, then there's an Avon lady.

.. You know, I don't get it."

Regretful of his decision, Oldman acknowledged that there have been other missed opportunities in his career. However, he refrained from discussing them, as it wouldn't be fair to the actors who eventually took on those roles. If Oldman had accepted the part and taken the spotlight away from Johnny Depp, it certainly would have had a significant impact on the movie business. Furthermore, Depp's career skyrocketed thanks to his exceptional performance in the successful $86 million film, Edward Scissorhands.

In a 2016 interview with Larry King, Gary Oldman candidly spoke about his career and minor regrets along the way.

When asked if he regretted turning down any roles, he mentioned the potential opportunity to play Edward Scissorhands. Oldman shared his initial reaction to the script, stating, "This is ridiculous. A castle at the end of this road and then an Avon lady comes around selling makeup and this kid's got scissor-hands. This is nuts! I don't get this at all." Consequently, he declined the role without even going for a meeting.

Undoubtedly, many fans of Edward Scissorhands are grateful that Gary Oldman passed on the part. This is not a reflection of Oldman's talents, as he is undeniably one of the greatest actors of his generation. However, Johnny Depp seemed destined for the beloved role. The 20th Century Fox film received positive reviews from critics and achieved significant financial success, grossing over four times its $20 million budget. You can now enjoy Edward Scissorhands on Disney+.