Johnny Depp was supposed to have a cameo role in 'Hugo'. The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor served as a producer on the Martin Scorsese-directed family film which stars Asa Butterfield as the titular character and while it was originally intended he would take part, schedule clashes eventually made it impossible. Producer Graham King said: "When I first got the manuscript of the book, I sent it to Johnny. We did a lot of movies together. Part of it is me sending projects to Johnny I think he could play a role in, another part of seeing if he has the reaction I have, and he read it and loved it and I said let's make this together. "There's a role that's not in the movie now that was in the script that he was going to play, a very small role. But we just didn't have the time to do it with the schedule. He was actually across the street shooting 'Pirates 4'. Graham also admits he was initially sceptical about filming the picture in 3-D...

Producers couldn't find time to include the star in the film. Johnny Depp Johnny Depp is not usually a man to be turned down for a film role, but when it came to Martin Scorseses Hugo the producers told Depp that they just couldnt find time to add him into the 3D film despite him just being across the road filming Pirates 4 at the time. Depp was sent the script for the film by producer Graham King before it was cast and at the time the two friends thought they would work on the film together. King revealed, When I got the script I sent it straight to Johnny. Theres a role not in the movie now that was in the script that he was going to play, a very small role. But we just didnt have the time to do it with the schedule, but he was actually just across the road shooting Pirates 4. Well, I suppose that it had to happen sometime in his career. Related Johnny Depp reveals his dark side to Ricky Gervais in 'Life's Too Short' TV - 16/11/2011 - And the crew can't help the...

Johnny Depp was supposed to have a cameo role in 'Hugo'. The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor served as a producer on the Martin Scorsese-directed family film - which stars Asa Butterfield as the titular character - and while it was originally intended he would take part, schedule clashes eventually made it impossible. Producer Graham King said: "When I first got the manuscript of the book, I sent it to Johnny. We did a lot of movies together. Part of it is me sending projects to Johnny I think he could play a role in, another part of seeing if he has the reaction I have, and he read it and loved it and I said let's make this together. "There's a role that's not in the movie now that was in the script that he was going to play, a very small role. But we just didn't have the time to do it with the schedule. He was actually across the street shooting 'Pirates 4'. Graham also admits he was initially sceptical about filming the picture in 3...

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:20p.m. Johnny Depp missed out on the chance to be part of Martin Scorsese's first 3D movie because the producers just couldn't find time to add him - even though he was filming the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie "across the street". Hugo producer Graham King sent Depp the manuscript for the ambitious new movie before he even had a cast and the two old friends decided to work on the film together. King tells CinemaBlend.com , "When I first got the manuscript of the book, I sent it to Johnny... He read it and loved it, and I said, 'Let's make this together.' "There's a role that's not in the movie now that was in the script that he was going to play, a very small role. But we just didn't have the time to do it with the schedule. He was actually across the street shooting Pirates 4 ." WENN.com

Johnny Depp was going to have a small role in 'Hugo' but could not find time to fit in into his busy schedule. Johnny Depp was supposed to have a cameo role in 'Hugo'. The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor served as a producer on the Martin Scorsese-directed family film - which stars Asa Butterfield as the titular character - and while it was originally intended he would take part, schedule clashes eventually made it impossible. Producer Graham King said: "When I first got the manuscript of the book, I sent it to Johnny. We did a lot of movies together. Part of it is me sending projects to Johnny I think he could play a role in, another part of seeing if he has the reaction I have, and he read it and loved it and I said let's make this together. "There's a role that's not in the movie now that was in the script that he was going to play, a very small role. But we just didn't have the time to do it with the schedule. He was actually acros...

It took the better part of a year, but Johnny Depp has finally gotten evenor so it seemswith Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais for rude jokes about The Tourist back in January. You may recall that Gervais was merciless in kidding Depp and his co-star Angelina Jolie about The Tourist, a caper comedy that attracted GG attention but also critical raspberries. At the time a smiling Depp seemed to enjoy the barbs, which included Gervais suggestion that bribes were paid to ensure his attendance at the annual Hollywood Foreign Press Association bunfest. But now video has surfaced from London suggesting that the normally mellow superstar went in for some major payback, after paying an impromptu visit to the production office for Gervais new BBC 2 show, Lifes Too Short. Depp casually rips Gervais a new one, while using the funnymans glass of water as an ashtray. He tells Gervais that the new movie hes making with Tim Burton (Dark Shadows) will make him more money than Gervais has ever seen for a...

It took the better part of a year, but Johnny Depp has finally gotten evenor so it seemswith Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais for rude jokes about The Tourist back in January. You may recall that Gervais was merciless in kidding Depp and his co-star Angelina Jolie about The Tourist, a caper comedy that attracted GG attention but also critical raspberries. At the time a smiling Depp seemed to enjoy the barbs, which included Gervais suggestion that bribes were paid to ensure his attendance at the annual Hollywood Foreign Press Association bunfest. But now video has surfaced from London suggesting that the normally mellow superstar went in for some major payback, after paying an impromptu visit to the production office for Gervais new BBC 2 show, Lifes Too Short. Depp casually rips Gervais a new one, while using the funnymans glass of water as an ashtray. He tells Gervais that the new movie hes making with Tim Burton (Dark Shadows) will make him more money than Gervais has ever seen for a...

Cast - Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Timothy Dalton, Paul Bettany, Steven Berkoff, Rufus Sewell Rated: PG-13 for violence and brief strong language Alexander Pearse is a bad boy. He's wanted by the British authorities for tax evasion. He's also wanted by a mobster, Reginald Shaw (Berkoff), for embezzling billions while in his employ. However, Alexander has a soft spot for Elise Ward (Jolie), and it's no secret. Everyone seems to be watching Elise and waiting for Alexander to reappear after two years in hiding. Inspector John Acheson (Bettany) is so convinced Pearse will come back for her, he's willing to push the limits as far as necessary to get his man. Elise receives a letter from Alexander with instructions. She's to board a specific train to Venice and select a man of his approximate build to befriend. Elise sits down with Frank Tupelo (Depp), a math teacher from Michigan. The aim is to convince authorities that Depp is actually Pearse, reemerging after $20 mil...

It took the better part of a year, but Johnny Depp has finally gotten evenor so it seemswith Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais for rude jokes about The Tourist back in January. You may recall that Gervais was merciless in kidding Depp and his co-star Angelina Jolie about The Tourist, a caper comedy that attracted GG attention but also critical raspberries. At the time a smiling Depp seemed to enjoy the barbs, which included Gervais suggestion that bribes were paid to ensure his attendance at the annual Hollywood Foreign Press Association bunfest. But now video has surfaced from London suggesting that the normally mellow superstar went in for some major payback, after paying an impromptu visit to the production office for Gervais new BBC 2 show, Lifes Too Short. Depp casually rips Gervais a new one, while using the funnymans glass of water as an ashtray. He tells Gervais that the new movie hes making with Tim Burton (Dark Shadows) will make him more money than Gervais has ever seen for a...

Johnny Depp and his wife Vanessa Paradis have recorded a song for an upcoming Serge Gainsbourg tribute album. The couple have covered the Gainsbourg 1971 track 'Ballade De Melody Nelson' for the album From Gainsbourg to Lulu , which has been compiled by the French legend's son Lulu. Scarlett Johansson earlier recorded a duet with Lulu Gainsbourg for the album, on a new version of 'Bonnie and Clyde' . Iggy Pop and Rufus Wainwright have also provided covers of 'Initial B.B.' and 'Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'en Vais' respectively. Marianne Faithfull and Shane MacGowan also appear on the album, which is out now. > Johnny Depp: 'I couldn't give a rat's arse about Rum Diary success' Listen to Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis cover 'Ballade De Melody Nelson' below:

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis took a walk in LA yesterday with their son Jack. The family of four, including Jack's sister Lily-Rose, are apparently based on the West Coast this year during the kids' time at school. The daily routine hasn't stopped Johnny and Vanessa from their work. They've even collaborated Johnny and Vanessa did a duet for a Serge Gainsbourg tribute album that just came out! Their song is an old Serge tune called "From Gainsbourg to Lulu." Johnny, meanwhile, just wrapped up a global press tour for The Rum Diary . He's gearing up for a variety of projects in 2012, like a film about Dr. Seuss and his Lone Ranger reboots. Johnny covers Aspen Peak's new issue and spoke about tackling Tonto inside the magazine. He said, "Im part Cherokee. And an old-time Lone Ranger fan. To me, Tonto was the stoic fox of the operation. He was the insider in America, and the Lone Ranger was the newcomer to the land. Ive got a great feel to how ...

Johnny Depp and his wife Vanessa Paradis have recorded a song for an upcoming Serge Gainsbourg tribute album. The couple have covered the Gainsbourg 1971 track 'Ballade De Melody Nelson' for the album From Gainsbourg to Lulu , which has been compiled by the French legend's son Lulu. Scarlett Johansson earlier recorded a duet with Lulu Gainsbourg for the album, on a new version of 'Bonnie and Clyde' . Iggy Pop and Rufus Wainwright have also provided covers of 'Initial B.B.' and 'Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'en Vais' respectively. Marianne Faithfull and Shane MacGowan also appear on the album, which is out now. > Johnny Depp: 'I couldn't give a rat's arse about Rum Diary success' Listen to Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis cover 'Ballade De Melody Nelson' below:

Johnny Depp and his singer girlfriend Vanessa Paradis have teamed up to record a duet for a Serge Gainsbourg tribute album. The couple has covered Gainsbourg's 1971 track Ballade De Melody Nelson for From Gainsbourg to Lulu, a compilation disc put together by the French legend's son Lulu. The project features a number of classics by the late star performed by Scarlett Johansson, Iggy Pop and Rufus Wainwright. Depp is no stranger to the music industry - the Pirates of the Caribbean star has rocked out onstage with his movie father Keith Richards and recently played with ZZ Top rocker Billy Gibbons after receiving an award at the Austin Film Festival. He has also showed off his talents on the guitar on Oasis track Fade In-Out and was a member of rock supergroup P, alongside singer Gibby Haynes, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones.

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com Here at EW, we try not to be too envious of Johnny Depps status as an all-time gene pool winner. But it does seem a tad unfair that, in addition to his acting chops, good looks, and top-notch mustache-growing capabilities, the guy can sing as well, as he proved with the 2007 movie Sweeney Todd . Depp has returned to the recording studio to duet with his wife ( and pop star in her own right ) Vanessa Paradis on a version of Ballade de Melody Nelson, which was originally recorded by French singer and all-round reprobate Serge Gainsbourg. The cover can be found on a new Gainsbourg tribute album called From Gainsbourg to Lulu , which also features Scarlett Johansson, Rufus Wainwright , and Iggy Pop , amongst others. In truth, Ballade de Melody Nelson is actually more of a showcase for Paradis than Captain Jack, who merely interjects the occasional bit of Depp-esque mumbling here and there. But as rock star releases go, weve heard much much worse. Che...

Johnny Depp wants to be buried in a whisky cast which mourners can drink from. The 48-year-old actor has been inspired to have a unique funeral by his late friend Hunter S. Thompson - who requested his ashes be fired from a cannon sat atop a tower of a double-thumbed fist clutching a peyote button and thinks it would be great for people to drink from his corpse. Johnny who funded the gonzo journalist's funeral which took place in August 2005 in Aspen told German magazine TV Movie: "Maybe I could go in a whisky cask and everyone can take a sip Hunter always dreamed of a special way to go. He wanted to be fired from a self-made cannon. Brilliant! So I built a huge cannon after his death in 2005 and fired his ashes into the sky." Just as Johnny has interesting ideas about his funeral, he has many unique things in his life, including a private island in the Bahamas which he has named after people who are close to his heart. Speaking about his Caribbean paradise, he said: ...

Some TV shows make great transitions to the big screen. The A-Team. Batman. Dragnet. Maybe even the first Dukes of Hazzard flick. And maybe "great" isn't the right word. But "tolerable" seems fair enough. So where does that leave us when you watch this safe-for-work version of the 21 Jump Street trailer? 21 Jump Street is a natural for making the leap from tiny TVscreens of 1987 to the bloated Hollywood mess of 2012. But as a comedy?With Jonah Hill ?Is there anything this guy says no to? BTW, there's a much-more popular red-band trailer for 21 Jump Street out there. It is, in no way, any funnier.

Johnny Depp wants to be buried in a whisky cast which mourners can drink from. The 48-year-old actor has been inspired to have a unique funeral by his late friend Hunter S. Thompson - who requested his ashes be fired from a cannon sat atop a tower of a double-thumbed fist clutching a peyote button and thinks it would be great for people to drink from his corpse. Johnny who funded the gonzo journalist's funeral which took place in August 2005 in Aspen told German magazine TV Movie: "Maybe I could go in a whisky cask and everyone can take a sip Hunter always dreamed of a special way to go. He wanted to be fired from a self-made cannon. Brilliant! So I built a huge cannon after his death in 2005 and fired his ashes into the sky." Just as Johnny has interesting ideas about his funeral, he has many unique things in his life, including a private island in the Bahamas which he has named after people who are close to his heart. Speaking about his Caribbean paradise, he said: ...

Costume designer Colleen Atwood has dressed Johnny Depp for eight films, five of which were directed by Tim Burton. The pair's collaboration dates all the way back to 1990's "Edward Scissorhands" and continues to this day with Burton's latest flick, "Dark Shadows." In the film, Depp plays centuries-old vampire Barnabas Collins, who is awakened in the late '60s and tries to forge a relationship with his modern descendents. Atwood recently revealed to MTV News that while Depp is most certainly involved in the costuming process, he's come to trust her enough to let her work her magic. "Johnny's very open about what things are in the process, but he really lets people present things to him. He never really pushes at all," Atwood said. "Sometimes he doesn't even look in the mirror in his fittings. It's so funny. It's pretty amazing. People would be surprised, because I think they have this image of Johnny, because he...

Johnny Depp wants to be buried in a whisky cast which mourners can drink from. The 48-year-old actor has been inspired to have a unique funeral by his late friend Hunter S. Thompson - who requested his ashes be fired from a cannon sat atop a tower of a double-thumbed fist clutching a peyote button and thinks it would be great for people to drink from his corpse. Johnny who funded the gonzo journalist's funeral which took place in August 2005 in Aspen told German magazine TV Movie: "Maybe I could go in a whisky cask and everyone can take a sip Hunter always dreamed of a special way to go. He wanted to be fired from a self-made cannon. Brilliant! So I built a huge cannon after his death in 2005 and fired his ashes into the sky." Just as Johnny has interesting ideas about his funeral, he has many unique things in his life, including a private island in the Bahamas which he has named after people who are close to his heart. Speaking about his Caribbean paradise, he said: ...

Costume designer Colleen Atwood has dressed Johnny Depp for eight films, five of which were directed by Tim Burton. The pair's collaboration dates all the way back to 1990's "Edward Scissorhands" and continues to this day with Burton's latest flick, "Dark Shadows." In the film, Depp plays centuries-old vampire Barnabas Collins, who is awakened in the late '60s and tries to forge a relationship with his modern descendents. Atwood recently revealed to MTV News that while Depp is most certainly involved in the costuming process, he's come to trust her enough to let her work her magic. "Johnny's very open about what things are in the process, but he really lets people present things to him. He never really pushes at all," Atwood said. "Sometimes he doesn't even look in the mirror in his fittings. It's so funny. It's pretty amazing. People would be surprised, because I think they have this image of Johnny, because he...

Vanessa Paradis (centre) with Marin Gerrier and Alice Dubois In Caf de Flore , a virtuosic new film from Quebec director Jean-Marc Valle , French pop singer Vanessa Paradis gives a fierce, powerful performance as the obsessively devoted single mother of a Down Syndrome boy. Paradis has two children of her own with Johnny Depp (Lily-Rose Melody Depp, 12, John Christopher Jack Depp III, 9). I interviewed her in September at the Toronto International Film festival. Q. How did you end up in this movie? A. Jean-Marc needed a French actress. He fished for one, and there I was. Q. Youre a mother playing a mother; how do you bring your own experience into a role like this? A. Everything gets entwined together, which is the subject of the movie. You try your best, thats what parents do. I play a single mother raising a Down syndrome son in the 60s with no money, and her boy is not expected to live beyond his 20s. She becomes very passionate and aggressive. Its a very different time. Today the...

A Johnny Depp lookalike pictured on the Island this summer. THE VIEW FROM HERE HONESTLY , the things I do for you. Well, not all of you, admittedly. I realise there are some for whom I dont do a lot (and be warned, I know who you are and where you live) but Ive certainly been working overtime on behalf of those many people who have a fixation with Johnny Depp. So listen up, and be grateful. Thanks to me, the Island has, at last, the definitive answer on Depp. Weve been obsessed with the gorgeous superstar ever since the summer, when he was seen all over the Island in a chocolate shop, a bookshop, a Ventnor hotel. He was photographed alongside delirious females.The Island appeared to have acquired a fabulous new celebrity, great news not just for females who like to swoon but for anyone who needed a fete opened.Then an element of doubt started to creep in. At the very time when Mr Depp was supposed to be smooching round the Islands womenfolk, he was pictured in London. Could we have be...

Peter Mountain/Courtesy of FilmDistrict and GK Films The Rum Diary , GK Films adaptation of the Hunter S. Thompson book starring Johnny Depp , will open the 8th Annual Bahamas Film Festival. Breakaway , the Bollywood-meets-hockey sports dramedy featuring Rob Lowe , will close out the Nassau-set fest. PHOTOS: 'The Rum Diary' Premiere at LACMA The festival, run by founder Leslie Vanderpool , runs December 1 to 4 and is headquartered at the Atlantis Resort on Bahamas Paradise Island. Both the opening and closing night red carpet screenings will take place at the Atlantis. The festival will screen 68 films from 33 countries in four competition categories: Spirit of Freedom (Narrative), Spirit of Freedom (Documentary), New Visions, First Look and Short Film. There will also be Caribbean and environmental sidebars and a world cinema showcase. David Cronenberg s A Dangerous Method is also getting a special screening while X-Men: First Class actress Zoe Isabella Kravitz is being ho...

Johnny Depp has been made the favourite to play Michael Jackson after it was revealed that the singer's estate are to make a biopic with 'Ghostbusters' and 'Up in the Air' producers Ivan Reitman and Tom Pollock. Bookmakers Paddy Power opened betting after the news was made public yesterday, with Depp surging into an early lead, with odds of 4/1. Other big name stars include 'High School Musical's' Zac Effron, at 9/2, Usher at 6/1, Will Smith at 8/1 and Justin Timberlake at 12/1. Given Jackson's change in skin pigmentation over the years, the bookies are also offering odds of 8/1 that the eventual lead star will be white, while it's even money that the man to play the King of Pop will be black. Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said in a statement: "Its going to be one mammoth task trying to get someone good enough at acting and dancing to fill Michael Jacksons moon-walking shoes but when it comes to the race were betting it dont m...

Forbes Images Johnny Depp Actor Johnny Depp arrives at the premiere of Paramount Pictures' "Rango" at Regency Village Theater on February 14, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

In The Rum Diary, Johnny Depp plays a much more serious, earnest Hunter. S. Thompson stand-in than Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas -- or the late Thompson himself, for that matter -- would have us expect. He's a journalist working for a struggling English-language daily in Puerto Rico, but "gonzo" is not yet part of his vocabulary. Director Bruce Robinson adequately captures the stranger-in-a-strange-land mood in the early scenes, but fails to push it to its hallucinatory limits. Starring : Johnny Depp, Giovanni Ribisi and Aaron Eckhart Rating : Three stars out of five Johnny Depp is aging backwards. The last time we saw his Hunter S. Thompson-esque character, he was roaring through the Nevada desert on a beer- and mescaline-fuelled frenzy in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Terry Gilliam made that film in 1998 and set it in 1971, which put both Depp and Thompson smack in their mid-30s. But The Rum Diary takes place a decade earlier. Depp is now 48, trying to pass for 25, a...

Johnny Depp wants to be buried in a whisky cast which mourners can drink from. The 48-year-old actor has been inspired to have a unique funeral by his late friend Hunter S. Thompson - who requested his ashes be fired from a cannon sat atop a tower of a double-thumbed fist clutching a peyote button - and thinks it would be great for people to drink from his corpse. Johnny - who funded the gonzo journalist's funeral which took place in August 2005 in Aspen - told German magazine TV Movie: 'Maybe I could go in a whisky cask and everyone can take a sip ... Hunter always dreamed of a special way to go. He wanted to be fired from a self-made cannon. Brilliant! So I built a huge cannon after his death in 2005 and fired his ashes into the sky.' Just as Johnny has interesting ideas about his funeral, he has many unique things in his life, including a private island in the Bahamas which he has named after people who are close to his heart. Speaking about his Caribbean paradise, he sa...

In a rare, candid interview, Shereen Low gets up close and personal with big screen legend Johnny Depp For every big budget Pirates Of The Caribbean-style blockbuster, Johnny Depp switches it up with a smaller movie that's close to his heart. With the fourth swashbuckling instalment, On Stranger Tides, still fresh in minds from its May release, one of Hollywood's finest talents has chosen to follow it up with a role that may not be as instantly recognisable as Captain Jack Sparrow or the Mad Hatter, but still has that power to grab attentions on the big screen. The Rum Diary, adapted from Hunter S Thompson's debut novel, holds a special place in Depp's heart, because he was close friends with the author and gonzo journalist before his suicide in 2005. "Johnny probably knew Hunter better than anyone else alive," acknowledges the film's director Bruce Robinson. His intimate connection to the film is probably the reason why Depp - who stars in and co-produces...

Johnny Depp showed off his wicked sense of humour while shooting a cameo on comedian Ricky Gervais' new British TV show Life Is Short by joking about pleasuring himself as the funnyman attempted to drown a dwarf. Gervais has teamed up with Harry Potter star Warwick Davis for the hilarious and politically incorrect new show about a struggling 'little person' actor - and he was thrilled when Depp agreed to appear on an episode. But Gervais admits filming was tough with the movie star on set - because the cast couldn't stop laughing at his comedic comments. Gervais reveals, "If people knew what he (Depp) was really like, his career would be over. "In one scene, I'm sort of helping Warwick get shoved down a toilet, as you do... I'm laughing and Warwick's laughing and at one point Warwick goes, 'Look at Johnny!' "I turn around and Johnny Depp is going, 'You don't mind if I masturbate while you're doing that?'"

WICHITA, KS (KCTV) - Johnny Depp's new movie, Rum Diary has been struggling at the box office, so far earning only about $5 million. His excuse? He told Britain's Guardian newspaper that he expected his film to earn about $13 in Wichita because it's only in the bigger cities in the United States where people are interested in "intelligent films." We asked Wichita moviegoers outside the Old Town Warren Theatre what they think about that, and as you might expect they're not crazy about Depp's insinuation that they're not intelligent. "It doesn't make me very happy," Ryan Sayler says. "In fact, I think it shows how unintelligent Johnny Depp is." Taleeda Crawford says, "I think (Depp's comment) is ignorant because there are smart, intelligent people and dumb people everywhere. So why single-out Wichita?" Satch Garrison says, "I don't think it was fair to the city of Wichita." And, if Depp thought the fil...

By Radar Staff Hollywood pals Johnny Depp and Ricky Gervais clash over whos got more show biz clout in a new tongue-in-cheek video in which the swashbuckling A-lister gets revenge on The Office creator for his scathing monologue at the Golden Globes Awards earlier this year. Gervais opening chat jabbed at Depps film with Angelina Jolie , The Tourist . It seems like everything this year was three-dimensional -- except for the characters in The Tourist ," Gervais said. "I haven't even seen The Tourist -- who has?" In the new bit Depp gets his revenge on Gervais, in a commercial for his new comedy with Stephen Merchant called Life's Too Short . Check out the hilariously sarcastic video on RadarOnline.com! The premise of the clip is that Depp and a talent agent are meeting Gervais and Merchant. After putting his cigarette out in Gervais' drink, Depp mentions he actually remembers him [Gervais] from the Golden Globes. When Gervais asked him what he's been...

He revealed his morbid idea was inspired by his late friend, the US writer Hunter S. Thompson, who requested his ashes be fired from a cannon on top of a tower. Johnny, who plays hellraiser Thompson in his latest movie The Rum Diary, said: "I could go in a whisky cask and everyone can take a sip." Johnny honoured his friend's wish by spending a reported two million dollars to have a tower and cannon built for the 2005 send-off at Thompson's farm in Colorado. He said: "Hunter had dreamed of a special way to go. He wanted to be fired from a cannon. "Brilliant! So I built a huge cannon after his death in 2005 and fired his ashes into the sky." Better to watch that than having to stomach a dram of whisky with Johnny preserved in it.

Johnny Depp is set to produce a fact-based thriller on the story of the death of former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko with a host of British talent. The 48-year-old 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' star is making the thriller with Hollywood-based British mogul Graham King who made 'The Departed' and 'The Tourist'. Rising British star Michael Fassbender, who played Mr Rochester in the recent 'Jane Eyre' and also starred in last summer's 'X-Men: First Class', is in talks to play Litvinenko. Litvinenko died in a London hospital in 2006 at the age of 43 after being poisoned with radioactive polonium-210. "As Fassbender demonstrated playing Bobby Sands in Hunger he does wasting away very well so is a perfect fit to play Litvinenko who died a slow, painful and very public death in his hospital bed," the Daily Express quoted Terence Doyle, a film commentator as saying. As he lay dying, the Russian, who had been granted asylum in Britain, publicly...

Picture: Johnny Depp at the premiere of Rum Diary at Odeon Kensington, London, England.... Johnny Depp Stopped At Customs With Dead Piranhas And Bats? Eccentric Johnny Depp once got caught at U.S. customs with a bag full of dead piranhas, vampire bats and exploding vitamin powder. The movie star claims he was flying into Florida from Peru when an airport official thought he'd come across the biggest arrest of his career. During a recent appearance on Britain's Graham Norton Show, Depp explained he was stopped at customs and asked to open his travel luggage. He said, "(I) unzipped (the bag) and there just happened to be some sort of vitamin powder that I was taking at the time... and, Poof!, there were these piranhas and bats covered in white powder... The guy thought he'd found the motherload... Everybody came out with guns." But the matter was quickly resolved and Depp was allowed to go on his way. He didn't reveal if he was allowed to leave the airport with...

In a rare, candid interview, Shereen Low gets up close and personal with big screen legend Johnny Depp. For every big budget Pirates Of The Caribbean-style blockbuster, Johnny Depp switches it up with a smaller movie that’s close to his heart. With the fourth swashbuckling instalment, On Stranger Tides, still fresh in minds from its May release, one of Hollywood’s finest talents has chosen to follow it up with a role that may not be as instantly recognisable as Captain Jack Sparrow or the Mad Hatter, but still has that power to grab attentions on the big screen. The Rum Diary, adapted from Hunter S Thompson’s debut novel, holds a special place in Depp’s heart, because he was close friends with the author and gonzo journalist before his suicide in 2005. “Johnny probably knew Hunter better than anyone else alive,” acknowledges the film’s director Bruce Robinson. His intimate connection to the film is probably the reason why Depp – who stars in and co-produces the film – is giving rare on...

The Rum Diary star on his love of Europe, flying by private jet and why he can't stop smoking Johnny Depp, dubbed by GQ as 'the world's coolest actor. Photograph: Chris Pizzello/AP In the weeks leading up to this interview, I began to think there must be some law that makes it illegal not to love Johnny Depp . Everyone melts into a puddle at the mention of his name. Men go even loopier than women – and the higher men rank on the cool-ometer of fame, the more in love with Depp they seem to be. Keith Richards, Brad Pitt, Marilyn Manson, the Gallagher brothers – the dudes all adore Johnny – while this month's GQ anoints him "the world's coolest actor". The director of Withnail & I was only talked out of retirement to make Depp's latest movie "because it was for Johnny", and recently Ricky Gervais was swooning in this paper: "His emails are like poetry. He's made of bohemia." The Rum Diary Production year: 2011 Country: USA C...