Johnny Depp shared insights into his decades-long friendship with Tim Burton for the upcoming documentary “Tim Burton: Life in the Line,” according to director Tara Wood.
In an interview with People magazine, Wood revealed she spent four hours interviewing Depp over two days in France while compiling the four-part docuseries. “I wish everybody could meet Johnny Depp, because you can’t explain Johnny Depp to anybody,” Wood said. “He’s so disarming and kind that you’re immediately at ease. He was very open and willing to talk about Tim Burton, who is clearly one of his favorite topics.”
Depp joins several A-list actors and frequent Burton collaborators in the series, including Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, and Helena Bonham Carter.
The docuseries explores Depp’s first meeting with Burton before Edward Scissorhands, as well as the director’s support during challenging moments in Depp’s personal life. Wood shared, “We could have made a whole documentary just on Tim and Johnny. Their friendship is deep and fascinating.”
“Life in the Line” delves into nearly every aspect of Burton’s life and career, from his early years in Burbank, California, to his latest film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024). Wood notes a recurring theme in Burton’s films: the “misunderstood monster,” a motif reflected in characters from Dumbo to Sweeney Todd, Corpse Bride, and even Ichabod Crane.
Wood explained, “That character — that’s Tim. That’s Johnny. That’s Winona. Everybody keeps coming back to the misunderstood monster. It’s central to Burton’s career.”
The documentary promises an intimate look at Burton’s creative world and the lasting bonds he has built with his collaborators, with Depp’s interviews providing rare personal insights into one of Hollywood’s most iconic director-actor partnerships.