Josh Brolin Opens Up About Almost Landing Johnny Depp’s Career-Defining Early Parts

In an interview shared by USA Today, actor Josh Brolin spoke about an early moment in his career when he almost ended up taking a role that eventually went to Johnny Depp, a decision that helped shape both of their paths in Hollywood.

Back in the mid-1980s, both Brolin and Depp were young actors trying to break into the industry. They were also friends and often crossed paths while auditioning for the same roles in Los Angeles. At that time, both had already had small early breaks. Depp had appeared in the horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), while Brolin had a role in The Goonies (1985).

One of the biggest turning points came when both actors auditioned for the TV series 21 Jump Street, a police drama about young-looking officers working undercover in schools. The role ended up becoming a major opportunity for whoever landed it, and both actors were strongly considered.

Brolin later explained the situation, recalling how close the decision was behind the scenes. 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 remembered the moment Depp got the final call that changed everything. According to Brolin, Depp had just finished working on Platoon and was excited about meeting director Oliver Stone. Then his agent called. Brolin described what happened next, saying, “The phone rings, it’s Johnny’s agent. He listens, hangs up, stuffs his clothes into his Platoon duffel and just walks out. The next time I saw him, I was doing a guest role on the fourth episode of 21 Jump Street.”

Depp went on to star in 21 Jump Street for several seasons, which helped launch him into global fame and led to major film roles like Edward Scissorhands. Brolin, on the other hand, did not get that same early breakout. He worked in smaller projects for years, including the 1986 film Thrashin’, which he later admitted he was not proud of.

For much of the following decade, his career stayed quiet, with only occasional roles in television and film. At one point, he even stepped away from acting and considered leaving Hollywood entirely.

That changed when he landed a major role in the Coen brothers’ film No Country for Old Men. The movie became a turning point for him and brought his career back into focus. After that, he appeared in several high-profile films including American Gangster, W, and Milk, the last of which earned him an Academy Award nomination.

In more recent years, Brolin has become a major figure in blockbuster films. He played Thanos in the Marvel Avengers movies and also appeared in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune series. He is also expected to be part of the final Dune installment, which is set to release around the same time as the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, though his involvement in that project has not been confirmed.

Looking back, the story shows how close casting decisions can shape two very different careers, even among friends starting out in the same place.

This is one of those rare Hollywood stories where timing changes everything. Both actors clearly had talent, but one role shifted their paths in completely different directions. It also shows how unpredictable the industry can be, even when success feels close. What do you think about how this casting decision shaped their careers? Share your thoughts in the comments.