Johnny Depp’s Dream Remake of House of Wax Never Happened—Here’s Why It Could Have Changed Horror Forever

Johnny Depp has long had an affinity for the macabre and the unusual. From his early days as a rising Hollywood star to his later collaborations with director Tim Burton, Depp’s tastes have often gravitated toward the darker, gothic corners of cinema. One particular film has always stood out in Depp’s mind as the perfect project to remake—a classic horror movie that shaped his love for the genre. That movie is House of Wax (1953), starring the legendary Vincent Price, and Depp has repeatedly expressed his desire to bring it back to life in his own unique way.

A Shared Passion for Vincent Price and Gothic Horror

Depp’s love for the horror genre was cultivated during his youth, particularly through his admiration of the great Vincent Price. Price, a cinematic icon from the 1950s and 60s, starred in several iconic horror films like The Fly, The Pit and the Pendulum, and House on Haunted Hill. For Depp and his frequent collaborator Tim Burton, Price was a towering figure in horror, and his films became a touchstone for their own work.

When Depp and Burton first teamed up on Edward Scissorhands (1990), they discovered that they were both lifelong fans of Price’s work. Burton had been captivated by Price long before Depp, and when the two joined forces, it felt like fate that Price himself would appear in the film as The Inventor. Depp, starstruck by the opportunity to act alongside his idol, described his admiration for Price, noting, “I adored him… As did Tim, long before me. So we spent time together, hung out. I was totally enamoured.”

Johnny Depp’s Dream Role: A Remake of House of Wax

For Depp, the pinnacle of Vincent Price’s legacy was House of Wax (1953), a chilling mystery in which Price plays a deformed sculptor who murders people and displays their wax-covered bodies in a macabre recreation of his wax museum. Depp’s admiration for the film was so intense that when asked in 1994 about which Price role he would love to remake, he responded without hesitation, “House of Wax, now that would be cool.”

Depp’s fascination with the film was clear: the idea of playing Price’s tortured sculptor and recreating the film’s eerie atmosphere seemed like a dream project for the actor. The potential for Depp to bring his own unique spin to the role—infusing the character with his signature eccentricity—would have been an intriguing prospect for fans of both Depp’s and Price’s work.

Tim Burton’s Unlikely Vision and the Lost Opportunity

Over the years, Depp’s dream of remaking House of Wax never came to fruition. However, Burton, ever the creative visionary, briefly entertained the idea of a remake himself. But in an unexpected twist, Burton’s proposed version did not include Depp in the lead role. Instead, Burton had an audacious idea to cast the iconic pop star Michael Jackson, who was known for his eerily waxlike appearance, in the role of the deformed sculptor. As Burton recounted, “They said ‘no.’ Can you believe that?” It’s a fascinating what-if scenario, one that might have resulted in an entirely different vision for the film.

To add salt to the wound, House of Wax was eventually remade in 2005, though not in the way Depp or Burton had imagined. The remake, featuring Paris Hilton in a leading role, was revamped as a teen horror movie with a focus on gruesome violence and slasher tropes. Despite the film’s scathing reviews at the time, it has since gained a cult following that believes it deserved more recognition. However, many fans still wonder how the film might have fared had Depp been given the chance to star in a more gothic, atmospheric version that stayed true to the spirit of the original.

What Could Have Been: Depp’s Vision for House of Wax

Had Depp’s vision for House of Wax come to life, it likely would have been a far cry from the teen-centric slasher that ultimately hit theaters. Depp’s House of Wax would almost certainly have taken on a more gothic, operatic tone, akin to Burton’s Sleepy Hollow (1999) or Sweeney Todd (2007)—minus the musical numbers, of course. Depp’s natural quirkiness and ability to transform into darkly whimsical characters would have brought a unique energy to the role of the murderous sculptor, elevating the film into a bizarre yet captivating exploration of horror.

Fans of Depp’s collaborations with Burton could easily imagine the haunting visuals, brooding atmosphere, and twisted character arcs that would have defined his version of House of Wax. Rather than the campy horror that defined the 2005 remake, Depp’s version might have been a more nuanced and unsettling psychological exploration of obsession, madness, and art.

The Great Depp Role We Never Got to See

Ultimately, Depp’s House of Wax remains one of the great “what-ifs” in his career. While the 2005 remake became a cult classic in its own right, many fans can’t help but wonder how Depp would have interpreted the role. Would his portrayal of the deformed sculptor have been more sinister, more tragic, or even more fantastical? We may never know, but the lost opportunity to see Depp’s take on this iconic character is a reminder of how sometimes the best creative collaborations never quite come to pass.

In the end, Johnny Depp’s vision of House of Wax is just one of many examples of how his dark, eccentric sensibilities could have reshaped classic horror films. Had it happened, it would have certainly been a film worth watching—after all, if anyone could bring Vincent Price’s legacy back to life with style and flair, it would have been Depp himself.