For years, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp were a cinematic duo as inseparable as peanut butter and jelly — if peanut butter wore eyeliner and jelly came with a haunting Danny Elfman score. But after eight collaborations across two decades, the Burton-Depp partnership came to a quiet halt following their last outing in Dark Shadows back in 2012.
Now, with the explosive success of Netflix’s Wednesday and a fresh wave of Burton creativity flowing back into the mainstream, all eyes are on a new actor whose name is stirring up speculation: Owen Painter.
Best known for his role as the mysterious Slurp — later revealed as Isaac Night — in Wednesday Season 2, Painter has become the center of internet chatter for his uncanny resemblance to a young Johnny Depp. Not just in looks, but in that elusive Burtonian vibe: a little macabre, a little charming, a little weird — all in the best way.
Depp’s Disappearance from Burton’s World
Let’s rewind for a second. Between the early '90s and the early 2010s, Depp practically had a residency in Burton’s brain. He was the awkward, scarred romantic lead in Edward Scissorhands, the eccentric chocolatier in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the demon barber in Sweeney Todd, and the bumbling detective in Sleepy Hollow.
But since Dark Shadows, the phone has stopped ringing.
Of course, that’s not just a coincidence. Johnny Depp’s public life unraveled in spectacular fashion as his messy relationship and subsequent court battles with Amber Heard became an international spectacle. The lawsuits, the headlines, the social media wars — it was more dramatic than any role Depp had ever played.
And while he’s slowly clawed his way back into the industry, the damage was done. Studios hesitated. Directors pivoted. And Burton, ever the quiet observer, seemed to keep his distance.
The Wednesday Effect
Cut to Wednesday — the glossy, gothic, and totally Gen Z Netflix hit that marked Tim Burton’s foray into serialized television. Not only did the show launch Jenna Ortega into superstardom, it also introduced a supporting cast filled with that unmistakable Burton flavor.
Enter Owen Painter.
Though his character was largely covered in monster makeup for the first half of the second season, once Painter’s human form was unveiled in Part 2, fans took notice. The sharp cheekbones. The deep, expressive eyes. The intense-yet-fragile energy. It felt… familiar.
Too familiar to ignore.
Side-by-side comparisons to young Johnny Depp flooded social media, especially his Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow eras. But it’s not just the resemblance. It’s the vibe. Owen Painter has that same haunted charisma — a kind of vulnerability wrapped in mystery — that made Depp such a compelling Burton lead.
A New Generation of Musedom
There’s also a bit of poetic symmetry happening. In Wednesday, Jenna Ortega’s character feels like a spiritual successor to Burton’s earlier female protagonists — think Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice or Kim in Edward Scissorhands. Ortega’s career is now on a similar trajectory to Winona Ryder’s back in the day.
So, if Ortega is the new Ryder… is Painter the new Depp?
That’s the theory fans are running with — especially since Painter doesn’t just look the part, he fits into the world seamlessly. Even beyond Wednesday, it’s easy to imagine him stepping into live-action versions of Burton’s animated creations. Victor from Corpse Bride, young Victor Frankenstein from Frankenweenie, or even something entirely new that Burton dreams up in his signature stop-motion-meets-surrealism style.
A Strategic Shift?
It’s worth noting that Burton’s world is evolving. His storytelling is now reaching a broader and younger audience, thanks in part to Wednesday’s viral success. If he’s planning to build a new core group of talent around him — one that resonates with both longtime fans and newer generations — it makes sense to turn the page.
And while Depp’s past work with Burton remains untouchable in its legacy, that chapter might be officially closed. The business of Hollywood is as much about perception as it is performance, and Depp’s history brings complications that Burton may no longer wish to navigate — especially in today’s media climate.
Owen Painter, by contrast, is a clean slate. A rising actor with a sharp profile, a small but promising resume, and now, the Burton stamp of approval.
Will We See Them Team Up Again?
So far, there’s no confirmation that Painter will appear in any upcoming Tim Burton projects beyond Wednesday. His character, Isaac Night, seemingly met a final end in Season 2, which means a return to that specific universe may not be in the cards.
But Burton is famously loyal to actors he connects with — and if Painter has made an impression (as it certainly seems he has), don’t be surprised if he resurfaces in a future film.
Burton currently has multiple projects in development, and with his creative resurgence fully underway, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Painter take on a lead role in something new, dark, and delightfully twisted.
Whether or not Tim Burton and Johnny Depp ever reunite remains to be seen. But the emotional and legal baggage Depp brings with him might be too heavy for a director who has always preferred working in weird, whimsical spaces rather than scandal-ridden ones.
Meanwhile, Owen Painter is emerging as a strong contender for Burton’s new go-to star. He’s young, talented, and has a natural magnetism that Burton fans are already falling for.
It may not be a changing of the guard officially — but it sure feels like we’re watching it happen,
