Johnny Depp has added another film to his extensive list of upcoming projects.
The actor will play notorious Boston gangster Whitey Bulger in the upcoming crime thriller “Black Mass,” according to Deadline.
The movie — which gets its title from Dick Lehr and Gerald O’Neill’s 2001 non-fiction book, “Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob” — will be directed by Barry Levinson (“Rain Man,” “Bugsy”), according to the website.
(Depp and Levinson previously worked together on mob classic “Donnie Brasco.”)
“I could not be more thrilled to have the biggest star in the world and Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson to finally bring this incredible story to the big screen,” producer Brian Oliver said in a release, according to the site. “‘Black Mass’ expertly details the twists and turns of this highly complex story, painting a vivid portrait of Boston’s underbelly and its corrupt political machine, as well as exposing the worst scandal in FBI history. It’s also an examination of loyalty to family, Irish heritage, and South Boston.”
The film is set to start shooting in May, though a release date has yet to be announced.
The Depp-led “Black Mass” is the second Whitey Bulger project to be announced within the last two years.
“Argo” helmer Ben Affleck has his own Bulger movie in the works (penned by “Boardwalk Empire” creator/”Sopranos” scribe Terrence Winter), with longtime friend/”Good Will Hunting” co-star Matt Damon attached to play the mobster.
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