Tim Burton Drops Johnny Depp? Chooses ‘Wednesday’ Star for Next Lead Role

The world of Tim Burton has always been a place of shadows, whimsy, and strange beauty. For decades, one man embodied that cinematic gothic chic: Johnny Depp. From Edward Scissorhands to Sweeney Todd, Depp was Burton’s creative soulmate, the actor who could turn Burton’s sketches into living, breathing dark fairy tales.

But times change — and in 2025, all signs suggest we might be entering a new Burton era. The Netflix hit Wednesday has not only revived Burton’s name for a younger audience but may also have introduced his next leading man: Owen Painter.

The Burton-Depp Era: Once the Perfect Pairing

At one time, it was impossible to imagine a Tim Burton film without Johnny Depp. They collaborated on eight major movies, defining a unique aesthetic that blended gothic romance with offbeat humor. Together, they gave the world iconic characters like Edward Scissorhands, Ichabod Crane, Willy Wonka, and Sweeney Todd.

Depp didn’t just star in Burton films — he became their heartbeat. Quirky, mysterious, romantic, dangerous, and deeply human, Depp was the face of Burton’s cinematic identity.

But after Dark Shadows in 2012, their creative partnership went silent. For more than a decade, no new Burton-Depp project materialized. At first, many assumed it was simply artistic evolution. But over time, speculation grew louder.

The Elephant in the Room: Depp’s Very Public Collapse

It’s impossible to separate the career of Johnny Depp from the highly public legal and personal battles that dominated the news cycle for years. His court fights with ex-wife Amber Heard turned from a private tragedy into a global media circus. Memes, hashtags, livestreams — suddenly Depp’s name wasn’t about movies anymore; it was about controversy.

For a director like Tim Burton, whose work thrives on mood, control, and careful world-building, aligning with someone engulfed in Hollywood’s loudest scandal was risky. By the time Burton returned to mainstream popularity with Wednesday, the entire industry had shifted. Streaming platforms, social-media-driven PR, and a younger fan base all demanded a different approach — less baggage, more freshness.

Enter Owen Painter: The New Face of Gothic Cool

In Wednesday Season 2, audiences met a new character: Isaac Night, played by Owen Painter. Initially introduced as a monster, later unmasked as a tragic, brooding figure, Painter instantly sparked comparisons online.

The resemblance to a young Johnny Depp is uncanny — especially Depp’s late-90s, Sleepy Hollow-era look. Pale, intense, a mix of fragility and danger, Painter’s performance had that magnetic unpredictability that Burton has always loved in his leads.

But the buzz wasn’t just about how he looked. It was about how he felt. His performance carried the same Burton-esque rhythm — strange yet soulful, dark yet playful. If Jenna Ortega has emerged as Burton’s modern Winona Ryder, then Painter may very well be his new Depp.

More Than Just a Look-Alike

What makes Owen Painter stand out is that he’s not a Depp imitation. He brings his own style, a subtle difference in energy — more raw, less polished, but equally compelling. Even though his character’s arc in Wednesday ended dramatically, the impression he left was lasting.

Fans immediately began speculating about him starring in future Burton projects. A live-action Corpse Bride? A reimagining of Frankenweenie? Painter seems capable of carrying the kind of roles that Burton writes best — eccentric, tragic, romantic outsiders who exist somewhere between nightmare and dream.

And considering Burton’s loyalty to actors who inspire him, the odds of Painter returning in another Burton-led project are very high.

Jenna Ortega: Burton’s New Queen Bee

Of course, the undeniable center of this next Burton era is Jenna Ortega. Her portrayal of Wednesday Addams made her a modern gothic icon, combining dry humor with vintage macabre charm. Ortega has the same magnetism Winona Ryder once had in Burton’s earlier films — which only strengthens the possibility of a new iconic duo.

The Ortega-Painter pairing in Wednesday already gave audiences that electric Burton chemistry — reminiscent of Depp and Ryder in the early ’90s. Together, they could define Burton’s next chapter, one aimed at both nostalgic fans and Gen Z audiences.

Will Depp and Burton Ever Reunite?

It’s a question that keeps circling in fan conversations: could Johnny Depp ever return to a Tim Burton movie?

While never impossible, the likelihood appears slim. Hollywood has evolved, Burton’s artistic focus has shifted, and the industry is leaning heavily on rising stars who bring cultural momentum without the PR complications. Depp remains a beloved figure to many, but Burton seems ready to build a new creative family.

And perhaps that’s the natural order of things. The Depp-Burton era was legendary, a cinematic partnership that gave us some of the most iconic characters of a generation. But as Burton himself reinvents his worlds for a new audience, new faces must take the torch.

A New Chapter Begins

Whether by choice or by timing, Owen Painter appears positioned to inherit a role once synonymous with Johnny Depp: Burton’s dark, romantic, unpredictable leading man.

From Edward Scissorhands to Willy Wonka, Depp shaped Burton’s past. Now, with Wednesday thriving, a fresh roster of actors like Ortega and Painter might shape his future.

The style remains the same — moody palettes, dreamy misfits, humor threaded through horror — but the faces in the frame are shifting. And that’s not a loss. It’s evolution.

The Burton cinematic kitchen is still serving its signature dish — gothic fantasy with a beating heart — but the ingredients are changing. If Owen Painter is indeed the next lead on the menu, then Tim Burton’s next film may carry both nostalgia and novelty, a bittersweet passing of the torch that keeps the weirdness alive for a whole new generation.