Johnny Depp was more than happy to dive into his decades-long friendship with Tim Burton for a new documentary on the filmmaker, according to director Tara Wood.
In a recent interview with People magazine, Wood revealed she spent four hours talking to Depp over two days in France while compiling interviews for her four-part docuseries, Tim Burton: Life in the Line.
“I wish everybody could meet Johnny Depp, because that’s another one — you can’t explain Johnny Depp to anybody,” Wood said. “You walk in, and first of all, he’s so disarming and kind that you’re immediately at ease. He was very open. I think Tim Burton is his favorite topic, so he was very willing to [chat].”
Depp is among several A-list actors and frequent Burton collaborators featured in Life in the Line, including Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, and Helena Bonham Carter.
In the series, Depp discusses everything from his first meeting with Burton before they made Edward Scissorhands to Burton’s show of friendship during difficult moments for Depp’s family.
“He shared a lot,” Wood told the outlet about her conversations with Depp. “That’s why I’m really happy to be releasing independently, because the bonus material, we could have done a documentary on just Tim and Johnny. There’s so many interesting things about their relationship and why they are friends and how deep their friendship is.”
Life in the Line explores nearly every aspect of Burton’s life and career, from his upbringing in Burbank, California, to his most recent film, 2024’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Wood notes that Burton’s collaborators and friends identify a common thread in what she calls Burton’s “ode to Frankenstein” throughout his career.
“The misunderstood monster — you see that in all of his films,” Wood said. “That’s Dumbo, that’s Sweeney Todd, that’s Corpse Bride, that’s Ichabod Crane, to a certain extent. That character — that’s Tim. That’s Johnny. That’s Winona. I think that’s what everybody would come back to, is the misunderstood monster. That’s his career.”
