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Credit: Inside the MagicFor decades, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp were an inseparable creative duo. The visionary director and the charismatic, offbeat actor formed one of the most iconic partnerships in modern cinema. From Edward Scissorhands to Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Sweeney Todd, their gothic, eccentric collaborations defined an entire era of dark fantasy filmmaking.
But it’s been over a decade since they last worked together, and now, with Burton deep into his new era — most notably with the massive success of Wednesday on Netflix — fans are starting to speculate: has Burton finally found a replacement for Johnny Depp?
Some believe the answer is yes — and they think his name is Owen Painter.
A Decade of Silence
The last time Johnny Depp and Tim Burton teamed up was in 2012’s Dark Shadows, a movie that received mixed reviews and failed to spark the same magic as their earlier work. Since then, Burton has continued directing, but without his long-time leading man. And that absence hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Burton is well-known for recycling actors across his projects. From Helena Bonham Carter to Michael Keaton, he builds long-term creative relationships that often span years and multiple films. Depp, however, was more than just a favorite — he was often referred to as Burton’s “muse.” So their decade-long silence raises a key question: why the split?
Depp’s Public Fallout
Of course, Johnny Depp hasn’t exactly had a quiet decade. His long and highly public legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard made headlines around the world, dragging the actor’s personal life into the spotlight in brutal detail. The explosive trials, abuse allegations, and defamation suits took a toll on Depp’s image, career, and public perception.
During that time, Depp became a polarizing figure. Some fans stood firmly in his corner, while others distanced themselves from the drama. Studios backed out of deals. Franchises dropped him. And although he has recently returned to acting in smaller, artistic roles, the effects of the controversy still linger.
Given all this, it’s no surprise that Tim Burton may have been hesitant to reenter the spotlight alongside his once-favorite collaborator. Burton has always walked the line between mainstream success and outsider art — and controversy of that magnitude may have been too volatile for the director’s current projects, particularly a high-profile series like Wednesday.
Enter Owen Painter
With the massive success of Wednesday, it was only a matter of time before new breakout stars started catching attention — and in Season 2, that spotlight has turned toward Owen Painter.
Painter plays Isaac Night, a character first seen under heavy zombie prosthetics in Part 1. But in Part 2 of Season 2, his human form is revealed — and fans immediately began drawing comparisons to a young Johnny Depp. The resemblance is eerie: the brooding eyes, the angular jawline, the quiet intensity. It didn’t take long before fans began speculating that Tim Burton might have found his new Depp.
What makes the theory even more compelling is the character of Isaac Night himself. Though ultimately revealed to be a villain, there’s something distinctly “Burton” about the way the character blends horror, charm, and tragedy. Isaac’s mad scientist tendencies, awkward elegance, and misunderstood motives feel like something ripped directly from the Burton playbook — a modern twist on the archetypes Depp once mastered.
Familiar Faces in New Forms
This isn’t the first time Burton has been linked to a potential “new Johnny Depp.” Asa Butterfield’s look in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children had similar energy. Arthur Conti’s casting in Beetlejuice 2 also drew comparisons. But neither had the same mix of eeriness and emotional depth that Painter brings to the screen.
There’s also something poetic in pairing Painter with Jenna Ortega, who has quickly become Burton’s newest leading lady. Ortega’s performance as Wednesday Addams has turned her into a dark-pop cultural icon — and many fans have dubbed her the modern-day Winona Ryder, who, like Depp, was once a core figure in Burton’s earlier films.
If Ortega is today’s Ryder, then it would only make sense for Burton to seek out a new Depp to round out his new ensemble of eerie muses.
A Face Fit for Burton’s Universe
Even beyond Wednesday, Owen Painter just looks like he belongs in a Tim Burton film. Fans have pointed out how easily he could play live-action versions of classic Burton characters. A real-life Victor Van Dort from Corpse Bride? Easily. A new take on the young Victor Frankenstein from Frankenweenie? Absolutely.
Painter has the kind of look that straddles awkward youthfulness with haunted intensity — the same balance that made Depp so compelling in his early Burton roles. And with Isaac Night’s death likely preventing a return to Wednesday, Burton may already be imagining Painter in something new.
Is This the Passing of the Torch?
While there’s no official word from Burton, Depp, or Painter about any new projects, fans are reading the tea leaves. And it’s not hard to see why. With the Burton-Depp era seemingly closed — at least for now — the director appears to be turning the page, building a new stable of gothic stars for a new generation.
If Jenna Ortega is the new Winona Ryder, and Owen Painter is the new Johnny Depp, then Tim Burton may be crafting a whole new chapter in his creative story — one that keeps his signature style alive while embracing the energy of younger, rising talent.
For Depp, the legacy with Burton will always remain legendary. Their films are etched into pop culture. But as time moves on, so must the director who thrives on reinvention. And right now, Owen Painter is the name fans are watching.
Whether it’s in a future film or a new series, don’t be surprised if you see Painter’s name appear again — under Tim Burton’s signature shadow.