Johnny Depp Wasn't Supposed To Star In The Movie That Launched His Career

In an interview with Vulture's Craig Marks and Rob Tannenbaum, New Line Cinema's Bob Shaye explained that the role of Glen Lantz — the boyfriend of Heather Langenkamp's final girl Nancy Thompson — was originally offered to Charlie Sheen. Unfortunately — or fortunately, for Depp — Sheen "wanted $3,000 a week," which was outside the team's budget. According to Craven, Depp ended up with the role with a little help from another cast member, a well-timed visit from Craven's daughter, and the director's willingness to trust in the taste of his demographic. 

Craven revealed that Depp had been recommended to him by "the actor who played the coroner" ("Pitch Perfect 2" co-producer Jeff Levine), but that his reading with Depp didn't leave him particularly impressed. "I remember his fingers were yellow from constantly smoking unfiltered cigarettes," he told the outlet, "and he was greasy and pale and sickly." Luckily for Depp — and for teen and tween girls everywhere — Craven's 14-year-old daughter and her friend were able to change the director's mind. 

As Craven explains, he took the headshots of the actors he was considering for Glen, and showed them to the two girls, who were visiting from New York. "They immediately pointed at Johnny," Craven said, adding that he was baffled. "I said, 'Are you serious?' He looked like he needed a bath." 

Despite Craven's reluctance regarding Depp's hygiene, in the end, he decided to trust his daughter and her friend's opinion. "They both said, 'He's beautiful,'" Craven added, proving that one of the writer-director's greatest strengths — his ability to know and trust his audience — was an integral part of the late horror guru's approach to filmmaking from the beginning.