Johnny Depp to play Whitey Bulger in a new biopic

Johnny Depp has signed to play Whitey Bulger in the biopic 'Black Mass.' The film in which Johnny Depp will play Bulger will most likely get a 2104 release.

Those hoping Johnny Depp breaks from working with director Tim Burton after the underwhelmingDark Shadows and recovers from Jack Sparrow fatigue inPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides can rejoice, as the actor takes on the Tonto mantle in Gore VerbinskisThe Lone Ranger(though,controversy surrounding theexpensive western blockbuster leaves the final outcome uncertain).

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Meanwhile, the actor is boarding two very different projects that begin filming this year: 1) Dark Knight Rises cinematographer Wally Pfisters directorial debut on the sci-fi flick Transcendence and 2) the Whitey Bulger biopic Black Mass, with Depp playing themost infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston."

Black Mass is based on the non-fiction book by former Boston Globe reporters Dick Lehr and Gerald ONeill. Its been in development going back to 2008, originating as a vehicle for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon who are currently working on their own movie about Bulger (it might end up scrapped after this announcement)- and securingOscar-winner Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, Dream House) as director in early 2009. Of course, that was well before the U.S. authorities captured Bulger in June 2011.