Tim Burton Hints at New Depp Collaboration, Not Scissorhands

Even though Beetlejuice was revived to captivate a new audience, Tim Burton has made it clear that not all of his iconic films will get the same treatment. Despite the success of Beetlejuice 2, Burton explained that some films are better left alone, including Edward Scissorhands, which marked his first collaboration with Johnny Depp.

Burton shared his thoughts with IndieWire at the Marrakech International Film Festival, stating that he doesn’t feel the need to make a sequel to Edward Scissorhands. "It felt like a one-off," he said, emphasizing that some movies, like The Nightmare Before Christmas, are best left untouched. For Burton, certain stories work perfectly as stand-alone films.

While Edward Scissorhands won’t see a sequel, Burton hinted that his partnership with Depp might continue. When asked about future collaborations, he expressed confidence, saying, "I’m sure there will be [more]." He added that his approach to casting isn't about using the same actors but about finding the right fit for the specific project.

Although Burton hasn't directed Depp in a film since 2012’s Dark Shadows, the two have worked together on eight projects, including Ed Wood (1994), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Corpse Bride (2005), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), and Alice in Wonderland (2010).

If they do team up again, it will be the first time since Depp's public legal battles, including a defamation trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. In 2022, a jury ruled in favor of Depp, finding that Heard's 2018 Washington Post op-ed defamed him. Heard later settled the case after withdrawing an appeal. Prior to that, Depp lost a libel case against The Sun in 2020 over allegations of domestic abuse made by Heard.

Since the legal battles, Depp has slowly made his return to acting. His recent roles include Colonel Joll in 2019's Waiting for the Barbarians, W. Eugene Smith in Minamata (2020), and Louis XV in Jeanne du Barry (2023). Earlier this year, he attended the San Sebastián International Film Festival for the premiere of his second directorial project, Modi — Three Days on the Wing of Madness.