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Filmmaker Tim Burton Says Johnny Depp is “Suburban White Trash”

johnny depp and tim burton
Credit: ScreenRant

Veteran filmmaker Tim Burton recently spoke about Johnny Depp, strangely comparing himself to Depp by saying that they are both “suburban white trash.”

Why Tim Burton Casts Johnny Depp In So Many Of His Movies

Credit: ScreenRant

Tim Burton is known for his, well, “interesting” take on filmmaking. His is a style that can only be described as “Burtonesque.” Far Out Magazine describes Burton’s style in this way:

“The “Burtonesque” centres on the dualistic relationship between nightmarish terror and childish wonder. Heavily influenced by the aesthetics of German expressionism, Burton’s cinema is intensely stylised, offering a warped version of reality that seeks to return the viewer to a state of childlike curiosity.”

Since 1990, part of that “Burtonesque” take on filmography has included the talents of actor Johnny Depp. Beginning with Edward Scissorhands in 1990, Depp appeared in leading roles for various Burton-directed films, and the dynamic duo’s magic wasn’t limited to live-action films, as seen in the stop-motion animation film Corpse Bride (2005), in which Depp lends his voice to the main character.

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Credit: Warner Bros.

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Depp also played the role of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. For Disney, Johnny Depp and Tim Burton worked together in the live-action films, Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass.

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During the Lumière Film Festival in France, which concluded on Sunday, Tim Burton talked about his practice of casting Johnny Depp in his many films.

Per Burton, the famed actor and seasoned filmmaker just happened to understand each other.

“I connected with him when I met him for ‘Edward Scissorhands’,” Burton said. “He was similar to me–kind of suburban white trash.”

Burton said that this similarity between the two is what led them to stay on the same creative page when making films. He felt confident in Depp’s obvious gift in playing a myriad of characters, which allowed him to bring to life just about any character Burton could write into a film. Burton elaborated further, saying that it became very exciting for him to watch how Depp could morph into yet another character as new roles presented themselves.

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“It was not even a verbal understanding,” Burton explained. “It was something I could feel. He liked the characters; he was interested in acting for the art of it, not the business of it. It was exciting to see somebody play different things. “The idea of this transformation from film to film always excited me.”

Burton’s new take on The Addams Family–a series for Netflix titled Wednesday is soon to be released, leading to talk that Depp might play the role of Uncle Fester–that Depp had secretly been brought in to film the role in the upcoming series. Since that time, however, it has been announced that Fred Armisen was cast for the role.

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Credit: Hollywood Life

Though recent rumors about a Burton-directed take-two of Beetlejuice have been swirling, the accomplished director reportedly denied any work on such a film, and he denied currently working with Depp. He further said he wouldn’t be retiring anytime in the near future, as his plan is to continue directing films for the time being.

About Becky Burkett

Becky's from the Lone Star State and has been writing since she was 10 and encountered her first Disney Park when she was 11. It was love at first Main Street Electrical Parade. Joy is blank lined journals, 0.7 mm pens, and all things Walt, Woody and Buzz, PIXAR, Imagineering, Sleeping Beauty (make it blue!), Disney Parks history and EPCOT. At Disney World, you'll find her croonin' with the birdies at the Enchanted Tiki Room or hangin' with Woody and the gang at Toy Story Land. If you can dream, you really can do it!