# Johnny Depp rejected the chance to remake the one movie he’ll “watch every year when it’s on TV”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/johnny-depp-rejected-the-chance-to-remake-the-one-movie-hell-watch-every-year-when-its-on-tv/
- Published: 2026-11-11T18:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T19:40:16+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/2011-johnny-depp-rejected-the-chance-to-remake-movie/
- Topics: Entertainment, Film, TV

## Key points

- Depp declined a role in *Oz the Great and Powerful*.
- He has said *The Wizard of Oz* is his favourite film.
- Scheduling conflicts led to James Franco taking the part.

## Summary

Johnny Depp reportedly turned down a leading role in *Oz the Great and Powerful*, a prequel to his favourite film, *The Wizard of Oz*. The missed opportunity stands out in a career that has often revisited familiar stories, and comes as Depp is preparing to play Scrooge in Ti West’s upcoming film *Ebenezer*.

Depp said in 1996 that he watched *The Wizard of Oz* every year and was moved by Dorothy’s farewell to her friends. He and Robert Downey Jr were among those considered for the prequel’s lead, Oscar Diggs, but Depp’s schedule clashed with work on *Dark Shadows*. James Franco ultimately took the role in Sam Raimi’s 2013 film.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.