Johnny Depp auditioned for the iconic role of Marty McFly in Back to the Future during the peak of his rising fame in the 1980s, but did not secure the part. According to Back to the Future co-writer Bob Gale, Depp and John Cusack were both auditioned for the role but neither seemed suited to it, highlighting how even increasingly successful actors face rejection in Hollywood's unpredictable casting process. The anecdote underscores Depp's contrarian approach to his career—deliberately avoiding conventional leading-man roles in favour of more unconventional projects that aligned with his artistic vision.

Gale recalled that aside from Depp and Cusack, C Thomas Howell was seriously considered for the part, whilst Eric Stoltz was screen tested. The audition represents one of several major projects Depp either turned down or failed to land during his early career, alongside roles in The Matrix and Face/Off. Despite these rejections, Depp's independence from traditional Hollywood expectations ultimately established him as one of cinema's most versatile character actors, with his choices to pursue projects like Cry-Baby and Edward Scissorhands demonstrating his preference for meaningful roles over commercial stardom.