Josh Brolin Opens Up About Almost Replacing Johnny Depp in Early Hollywood Roles

The story of Josh Brolin and Johnny Depp goes back to their early days in Hollywood, when both were young actors trying to break through in the mid-1980s. According to an interview Brolin gave to USA Today, the two were even close friends while competing for similar roles in Los Angeles.

At that time, both actors were starting to get attention in the industry. Depp had already appeared in A Nightmare on Elm Street, his early breakout role in horror. Around the same period, Brolin appeared in The Goonies, where he played an older brother character that helped introduce him to audiences.

Even with those early credits, both actors were still looking for steady work. One major opportunity came with the TV series 21 Jump Street, a police drama about young-looking officers working undercover in high schools.

Brolin later explained how close the casting decision was between him and Depp. He said, “I wanted any job at that point. They had fired the initial guy and auditioned three other guys, and it came down to Johnny and me. The network wanted me, the producer wanted Johnny. He and I were at his apartment hanging out; our girlfriends were best friends at the time.”

He also described the moment Depp got the role. According to Brolin, Depp received a phone call from his agent, and after hearing the news, he quickly packed his things and left. Brolin said Depp had just worked on a small role in Platoon at the time and was excited about his career direction.

Depp ultimately won the role of Officer Tom Hanson in 21 Jump Street, which became a major TV success and helped launch him into full movie stardom in the years that followed, including roles in films like Edward Scissorhands.

Brolin did not land the part, but their friendship continued. However, his career took a slower path for a while. He appeared in smaller projects, including the 1986 skate film Thrashin’, which he later described as a weak performance. For years after that, he mostly worked in small TV roles.

At one point, Brolin even stepped away from acting and considered leaving Hollywood completely. He planned to move into financial trading instead. But everything changed when he was cast in the Coen brothers film No Country for Old Men.

That role revived his career and led to major projects like American Gangster, W., and Milk, for which he earned an Academy Award nomination.

In recent years, Brolin has become a major box office name. He played Thanos in the Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame films, and also appears in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune series.

He is also expected to return in upcoming major releases, including projects tied to the Marvel and Dune franchises.

This story shows how unpredictable Hollywood careers can be. One casting decision can change everything, but it also shows that missed chances do not always end a career. Both actors built long and successful paths in different ways. What do you think about Brolin almost landing Johnny Depp’s role? Share your thoughts in the comments.