Johnny Depp

No stranger to narration, Johnny is picking it up once again but signing up to be the new narrator for a Doors Documentary. It’s called “When You’re Strange” which makes it far from Strange that Johnny was drawn to it! It will cover the legendary band and it’s lead singer Jim Morrison. Shown at Sundance Film Festival, the movie got good reviews, even with the original narration by the director, Tom DiCillo and has all original footage that was shot between 1966 and 1970, including concert and in-studio footage.

The official announcement about Johnny’s addition to the film, is expected to be made at the Berlin Film Festival according to the Los Angeles Times.

Morrison advocated he use of psychedelic drugs, and Johnny as been in a number of films featuring them - including starring as the late gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thomspon in Fear and Loathing in las Vegas - as well as narrating last year’s Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. Not only that, but Johnny will be playing the writer in the upcoming feature film of Thompson’s The Rum Diary.

Speaking of The Rum Diary, it is quickly building a very impressive cast! Johnny Depp, of course, as well as Amber Heard are on board, and rumor has it they’ve been followed by Aaron Eckhard, and Richard Jenkins who are close to signing onto the project that will be directed by Bruce Robinson. Eckhard will be the wealthy landowner who’s part of the Depp/Heard’s love triangle, while Jenkins will be Depp’s washed-up and hard drinking reporter’s boss.

The Rum Diary is slated to start shooting at the end of March in Puerto Rico.

Ok, this rumor keeps popping up, so I’m gonna mention it. Apparently Just Jared found it in In Touch Magazine, thought Brendon over at SlashFilm couldn’t locate the original story online. Anyway, it seems that the Farrelly Bros. has been developing the script for a new Three Stooges Movie for quite some time, and naturally want the very bankable Johnny Depp for the role of Moe. While there’s no choice that’s been named for Curley, the same report suggested that they were in meetings with Sean Penn to take over as Larry.

Interesting choices… another source said that Billy West, a voice actor, was meeting with Penn to help him prep his Larry impression, so the rumor is at least partly true - and we do know that our boy likes to take on the odd roles… so what do you think? Would you watching a Three Stooges movie with Penn and Depp?

As we reported before, the writers of Pirates of the Caribbean are in the process of writing and finding actors for The Lone Ranger. Johnny has been confirmed as being on tap to play Tonto, the legendary side kick, though the part of the Lone Ranger himself is still up for grabs. Many rumors have circulated that George Clooney is on tap for the role, but Jerry Bruckheimer recently stated that they haven’t given the script to anyone in particular yet - they’re still working on it.

While discussing it, though, Bruckheimer also said that the big screen revamp will take a page from the Pirates trilogy, and include a new supernatural element. He didn’t go into details of course, but it certainly would open up different directions that he could possibly take the film.

What do you think? Should they keep it realistic, or head into some unknown territory for the Lone Ranger and Tonto?

The full cast list for Gore Verbinski’s Rango is out, with the addition of Isla Fischer. She joins Alfred Molina, Ray Winstone, Harry Dean Stantn and Ned Beatty, Abigail Breslin - and of course, Johnny Depp as the voice of Rango. Rango is still in pre-production, with a release date of 2011 and they haven’t yet released a date where they will start filming. Isla will play a lizard ho encounters Depp’s character during his travels to discover his true self.

Rango will also use the newest of the new in animation tehniques, filming the actors as they are performing the roles, so that the animators can match facial movements and features with the virtual characters. Sounds like a lot of fun, and I’m sure the kids will love it - which gives us adults reason to watch and listen, too, hm?

We all know Johnny is a hard man to find - but when he does come out and face his adoring fans, he always has something to say, something that reminds us how grounded he is, and just why we love him. One thing he’s never shy about talking about his love for his family. He told Britain’s Psychologies magazine recently that he “could sit there all day and do nothing but watch them grow. I’m totally inspired by them.”

Them = his longtime girlfriend Vanessa Paradis and the kids, Lily-Rose and Jack. He credits Vanessa with giving him the proper perspective and understanding in his life, adding that they have “a miraculous understanding of each other.”

Would that we all had that! When asked about his more memorable roles, Johnny admitted that he was “a million percent in love with Edward Scissorhands,” so much so that his last day of filming had him looking in the mirror for a sad goodbye to the character. He also loved Pirates, naturally. He and Orlando Bloom would look at each other and “say ‘We’re actually getting paid to do this?’”

Of course, he had to get in a dig or two about his celebrity status, and how he never wanted to be the guy people looked at. “It’s too mortifying.” Not on our side of the coin, Johnny, not at all!

In other news Depp’s production company Infinitum Nihil purchaced the screen rights to a movie about Dante Alighieri, based off the book “In the hand of Dante” by Nick Tosches. The book gives the reader a parallel story of a modern day and a 14th century artist, Dante, and Johnny will be playing the role of the modern day artist.

In a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly, the High School Musical star, Zac Efron voiced his desire to pick the brains of Hollywood’s elite A-listers - Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp in particular. Seeking advice, he confessed to wanting a sit down session with the men to pick their brains about their early careers and get some advise for where he should head next. He respects them, for having maneuvered well in the industry that’s littered with wrong turns. “They do it because they love it, not because they enjoy being famous.”

He may get his wish, after all. According to recent reports, Efron will be joining the cast of Pirates of the Caribbean 4. Further reports suggest that he was actually being groomed as Johnny’s successor (good luck with that, buddy boy!) but it was decided that it wasn’t Pirates without Depp (GOOD CALL DISNEY!), and instead offered Zac a smaller part to join with our Johnny. While the paycheck for Johnny Depp is said to be in the $55 million range, Zac stands to get a cool $6 million, double his HSM earnings, to join the swashbuckling crew.

Zac’s ok. But he’s no Johnny. Just sayin’.

In fact - NO ONE can play an oddball like Depp! So says his partner in crime, director Tim Burton, when he recently reported that Johnny is taking his newest role as the Mad Hatter to heart… or stomach, as he ate part of his costume last week.

“Nobody plays oddballs better than Johnny and he’s loving playing this one,” Tim said. “He actually ate his hat the other day. No word of a lie, he just bit into the brim and chewed.”

He may be weird - but it’s definitely part of his charm, hm?

Ok, so, I’ve never heard of this show, let alone the plans for a movie version, but apparently Johnny Depp thinks it’s to die for! While working on Alice in Wonderland in Los Angeles, Johnny and Matt Lucas, one of the minds behind Little Britain USA have become friends. Lucas plays the Tweedles in Alice in Wonderland, opposite Johnny’s Mad Hatter.

Anyway! Someone on set, told UK’s Mirror, that “Johnny was laying it on thick saying how much he enjoyed the first episode of the series.” Then continued saying, “He said he would do anything to have a part in the movie.”

Aaaaaaanything? Man, don’t I wish I were part of that casting couch session. Just kidding!

When asked about the plans for a Little Britain USA movies, Matt Lucas would only say that hey though it would be “interesting to make a movie where we play lots of characters.”

It might even do well. Reports say that LIttle Britain USA on BBC1 Friday pulled in five million viewers. To see what all the hubbub is about, you can go here to HBOs Little Britain’s web site, view previews, meet the cast, and even see Lucas and partner David Walliams who are the masterminds behind the series in an exclusive HBO interview.

You can even follow character Andy on Twitter, and send… um, unique… e-cards. There’s downloads, newsletters, facebook, and more community type things too. Just be warned - if you’re not into British humour? you probably will not like this show at all. If you do? have at it! And you KNOW it won’t matter if we love or hate it, normally - if Johnny’s in it? We’re THERE.

So I’m still trying to wrap my head around Johnny Depp as Tonto, while the rest of the nation is trying desperately to figure out just WHO will he call Kemo Sabe? There’s been no official announcement to clue us in on who will play the Lone Ranger himself, so everyone is forming their own opinions of who would do best in the roll.

While the LA Times figures the best mystery man of all would be Viggo Mortensen, especially after seeing Hidalgo and the Appaloosa trailer, saying he does the “dusty-trail adventure thing with a nice flair”, others are certain that George Clooney would best fit the roll. It would definitely be a powerhouse pair to drive box office sales, if it were true, and they both do love that dead pan dry kind of humor that encourages the wink-wink nudge in the dark of the theater.

While some think he’d be perfect, going so far as to quote an insider’s view that “George is very keen, he’s been trying to do a movie with Johnny for a long time” and that he thinks “they’ll make the perfect on-screen partnership”, the LA Times isn’t so sure. Maybe Clooney is too old, though Johnny’s age is excused since he tends to approach his acting career “like a kid rummaging through a trunk of dress up costumes.”

Alas, we will still have to wait for the announcement, as no one has stepped up to officially say “it’s me! I’m the Lone Ranger!” and while we do, there is no end to the speculation. Who do YOU think would fill the roll the best? Who can match Johnny’s star power, and play the leader, to Depp’s sidekick? Who do YOU think he should call Kemo-sabe? Hit up the comments, and let us know!

Like we didn’t already KNOW this, but it’s finally official - Johnny Depp WILL be the Mad Hatter for the upcoming Alice in Wonderland, working once again side by side with Tim Burton. Not only that, but according to the Hollywood Reporter, Johnny Depp will also be playing Tonto in a new movie version of The Lone Ranger.

…wait, what?!

Apparently there was a daylong preview of upcoming Disney Movies and projects today at the Kdak Theatre which ended with a surprise Johnny sighting - outfitted as Jack Sparrow, but with “The William Tell Overture” which every one knows is the Lone Ranger theme. Naturally, I have not located any photos of this - anyone? Video would be even better!

Now the question is - will Helena Bonham Carter play the Queen of Hearts?

And who is the Lone Ranger to Depp’s Tonto? And is there ANYTHING else in the works that doesn’t make sense? I mean, Tonto? TONTO? I don’t know if I can quite believe that one, or wrap my head around it at all. But if Disney said it, it’s true, right? Of course, I only remember the old school Lone Ranger, so maybe that’s why it’s not working for me.

But in the end, I’ll have to trust Disney - after all, they’ve given us Pirates, and have a fourth one in development now! No word on if Johnny will return for that, but can it really be Pirates of the Caribbean without Depp’s Jack Sparrow? I don’t think so. (Update: Johnny is DEFINITELY in for Pirates 4. )

No word yet on when Depp will start filming for Alice in Wonderland - though we know that they have started filming other parts of the movie at the Antony House in the UK.

Here’s a random smattering of news about Johnny that’s surfaced lately!

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Oopsy, Oshkosh!

In Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a business group had to pay a hefty fee of $12,000 due to an add they produced using a photograph of Johnny Depp without the permission of Universal Studios. The photo was taken while Depp was filming Public Enemies, though they forgot to ask the studio for permission to use Depp’s image in an ad in Experimental Aircraft Association guides.

The Downtown Oshkosh Business Improvement District then reimbursed the newspaper and buyers guide the $12k because they had to reprint. That’s an expensive oops!

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Johnny was awarded the Russian George Milies Award for the fourth time in a row - this time for Simply the Best (for life). His bandmate accepted the award fr him, and gave it to him at the Sheila Witkin Concert.

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Johnny Depp and Tim Burton, the dastardly duo, have been declared and verified by Guinness that they are the most lucrative movie partnership in history!

I know, tell us something we DON’T know! Next they’re gonna declare Johnny Sexy. Because, you know, we might not be sure about it until it’s official and all…

Anyway, their five films together have netted $570.6 million in earnings world wide, which earned them the record and the Guinness mention.

———

Speaking of Depp/Burton, filming has started at the Antony house for the upcoming Alice in Wonderland, but alas, Johnny fans have been disappointed. Though it’s still said that Johnny will be in the film, he won’t be fliming at Antony, in Plymouth, or anywhere in the UK. Disney still hasn’t confirmed he’s even IN the film!

But hey, with them being the best Movie Making Duo Ever, is there really any doubt? The only question is if he’s real, or Memorex CGI. Either way, he won’t be in the UK.

Remember back here when I told you Johnny Depp and The Kids would be performing in Florida this weekend? A lucky photog snapped a shot of our man sneaking into a recording studio in Florida - presumably to practice with the band in preparation for the concert. So who’s in Florida who’ll head over there and snap some photos for us here at JohnnyDeppWatch, hm? Anyone? Beuller? Beuller?

In other news - there’s another rumor floating around - and no, not that Catwoman might be played by Cher to terrorize Gotham along with Depp as Riddler, because some on - who would believe that?! Cher? Catwoman? No. Just no. This rumor has to do with Sin City 3 - Hell and Back which Johnny Depp has been rumored to play Wallace.

Sin City 3 is still in production, with a release date of 2009. Sin City 2, though (A Dame to kill for) was held up for some reason and won’t be out until 2010, which puts Sin City 3 out at the earliest 2011. Also rumored to appear is Michael Clarke Duncan as “Manute.”

The plot involves Wallace, an ex-Navy SEAL, who saves a young woman Esther from killing herself. She then, because this always happens, is kidnapped after a night on the town by mysterious people. “May God have mercy on those who stand in Wallace’s way.”

According to director Robert Rodriquez, the part was written with Johnny in mind. The story revolves around the Sin City Graphic Novel “Hell and Back” which features the brooding artist Wallace, who’s drugged repeatedly and wanders through the story hallucinating.

Sounds like something right up Johnny’s ally, huh?

With all the news about the release of Sweeney Todd, I haven’t talked much about Johnny’s other upcoming projects. Shantaram is set to begin filming in January. It will be directed by acclaimed Indian director, Mira Nair, whose recent films include The Namesake and Vanity Fair. The screenplay was written by Eric Roth, whose other screenplay credits include The Good Shepherd, Ali, and Forrest Gump, among many other popular films. The only two cast members confirmed have been Johnny and Indian actor, Amitabh Bachchan. I’ll give you other Shantaram news as it becomes available. In the meantime, here’s a synopsis of the book, as it appears on Amazon:

Crime and punishment, passion and loyalty, betrayal and redemption are only a few of the ingredients in Shantaram, a massive, over-the-top, mostly autobiographical novel. Shantaram is the name given Mr. Lindsay, or Linbaba, the larger-than-life hero. It means “man of God’s peace,” which is what the Indian people know of Lin. What they do not know is that prior to his arrival in Bombay he escaped from an Australian prison where he had begun serving a 19-year sentence. He served two years and leaped over the wall. He was imprisoned for a string of armed robberies peformed to support his heroin addiction, which started when his marriage fell apart and he lost custody of his daughter. All of that is enough for several lifetimes, but for Greg Roberts, that’s only the beginning.

He arrives in Bombay with little money, an assumed name, false papers, an untellable past, and no plans for the future. Fortunately, he meets Prabaker right away, a sweet, smiling man who is a street guide. He takes to Lin immediately, eventually introducing him to his home village, where they end up living for six months. When they return to Bombay, they take up residence in a sprawling illegal slum of 25,000 people and Linbaba becomes the resident “doctor.” With a prison knowledge of first aid and whatever medicines he can cadge from doing trades with the local Mafia, he sets up a practice and is regarded as heaven-sent by these poor people who have nothing but illness, rat bites, dysentery, and anemia. He also meets Karla, an enigmatic Swiss-American woman, with whom he falls in love. Theirs is a complicated relationship, and Karla’s connections are murky from the outset.

For more movie news, visit Movie Review Report.

Johnny Depp, Depp, Shantaram, Sweeney Todd, Mira Nair, Forrest Gump, Ali, The Good Shepherd, The Namesake, Vanity Fair, Amitabh Bachchan

Here’s the second trailer for Sweeney Todd! The more I see about this movie, the more excited I am to see it!

There’s none of Johnny’s singing in this trailer. The blogosphere is really buzzing about Johnny’s singing (or lack thereof) in these trailers. Does it mean he can’t sing? Is his voice awful? Can’t he carry a tune? There’s been a lot of pointing out that his singing was dubbed in John Waters’ film, Crybaby. And also a lot of pointing out that Waters had his reasons for not letting Johnny sing that had nothing to do with his voice.

Tom O’Neil over at theL.A. Times is comparing Depp and Sweeney to Rex Harrison in the 1964 George Cukor film My Fair Lady. He quotes Julie Andrews, Harrison’s stage co-star with saying He couldn’t sing, but he had an innate musicality which enabled him to kind of do a sing-speak sound, which was great and exactly right because it blended straight out of dialogue into song.”

He then goes on to say that, even if Johnny can’t sing, he may be able to pull of the same “sing-speak” thing that Rex Harrison did. But then, O’Neil is not known to be a fan of Johnny Depp. Personally, I don’t think we have anything to worry about.

Not only because this is Johnny Depp we’re talking about, but because composer Stephen Sondheim had final say over the stars. Both Johnny and Helena Bonham Carter had to audition for him. Also, Sondheim has seen the film and he says it’s great. And Sondheim is not known for being diplomatic if he has issues!

In a recent interview, Sondheim said of the movie, “It’s not the Broadway show. It’s only an hour and 45 minutes. A lot of the score has been cut. They’ve made it its own thing. You have to go in knowing that. But what they’ve done is great.” If the composer thinks it’s great, what else can you say?

Personally, I’m going on the belief that Johnny Depp and Tim Burton together can do no wrong!

For more on upcoming movies, see Cinema Hype.

Johnny Depp, Depp, Sweeney Todd, Tim Burton, Stephen Sondheim, Helena Bonham Carter, Rex Harrison, My Fair Lady, Julie Andrews, John Waters, Crybaby

Reuter’s news service recently interviewed Tim Burton, following his receiving the lifetime Golden Lion Achievement Award at the Venice Film Festival. Here’s a portion of that interview:

Q: Your next movie is based on the story of Sweeney Todd. What is it about the story that makes it so popular, with a series of revivals and adaptations recently hitting stages around the world?

A: “I don’t know if it was that popular in terms of just mass culture as a musical … It’s probably my favourite musical just because of all the different elements — the horror, the humour, the drama and the beauty of the music all juxtaposed in there. I just felt like on stage the one thing that they don’t have the opportunities to see (is) the actors’ faces and eyes, so this is a case where we almost felt like we were making a silent movie with music.”

Q: Although many of your films feature music, this is your first proper musical. Why do it?

“This is the first pure (musical) and this musical is even different from most in the sense that there’s a lot of music in it. This one is almost musical throughout. That was an extra challenge that I got excited about, really.”

Q: Johnny Depp has been quoted as likening his singing voice to “the mating call of a rutting stag”. I don’t know if he said that, but having directed him in a musical, do you agree?

A: “That sounds like him! No I don’t. He’s great. When I asked him to do it I had no idea if he could sing or not. I know he’s in a band and all that, but then when he said yes, I knew that he wouldn’t say yes unless he himself knew he could do it. That’s the great thing about him, he’s always up for a challenge and I think he’ll surprise people. I think he sounds amazing.

Q: You regularly work with Depp. Would you have considered making this movie with anyone else in the lead?

A: “I was involved with Sweeney Todd about 10 years ago. It just never happened. He (Depp) would have been too young for it at that point. Things have a weird way of working themselves out. On stage they always portray them (Todd and partner in crime Mrs. Lovett) as old, like in their 50s or whatever. But it just felt more passionate somehow to have them younger than that in the movie, sort of in their 40s. In some ways it’s kind of a luck thing where yeah, I might have made it with somebody else but I’m glad I didn’t, because I think he’s amazing in it.”

Q: Helena Bonham Carter also stars in this film. Is it ever a problem directing your partner?

A: “Yes! The good thing is that she was really right for the role and (that) sort of supersedes anything, and we’re still together and that’s a positive side. A few rocky moments. But when somebody’s right for a role that kind of takes the edge off a bit.”

Q: Why is this Golden Lion award important to you?

A: “I’ve been to this festival a few times, and each time I’ve come here I’ve just had this very special feeling about it. You grow up in Hollywood and that whole scenario and what you feel here is that there is just passion about movies. So that’s what makes it special to me — it’s not about business, it’s not about finance, it’s about just the love of movies. And so to get this at this point in my life I just think is an inspiration and I can always remember it and hopefully use that as an inspiration to keep going.”

Johnny Depp, Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Burton, Sweeney Todd, Venice Film Festival

I posted recently regarding Johnny portraying vampire Barnabas Collins in an upcoming movie version of the TV gothic soap “Dark Shadows.” Now, I find out that the original “Dark Shadows” is, at last, being released on DVD! According to the Bay Area Reporter, the first set of DVD’s will be released later this month. I can’t wait! I’ve long been a fan of the original series, so this is something I’m really looking forward to seeing.

Here’s a copy of the article from Bay Area Reporter:

Depp shadows

Variety reported last week that Johnny Depp is set to take the lead in a film adaptation of 1960s TV show Dark Shadows, as vampire paterfamilias Barnabas Collins.

Sez the trade pub: “Depp has said before in interviews that he was obsessed with the show as a kid, and wanted to be Barnabas Collins as a child, so it looks like he’s got there at last. He’s developing the film with Warner Bros. producer Graham King and his own production company, but it’s a little way down his To Do list. He’s just wrapped Sweeney Todd and still has Shantaram in development, as well as a project about murdered spy Alexander Litvenenko.”

While we wait for Depp’s new take, we’re cheered to hear the first stirrings of the Gothic soap opera TV series will be released on DVD later this month. Dark Shadows: The Beginning (MPI Home Video; $59.98) presents the series’ early episodes before Barnabas’ arrival. Among the disc’s highlights is the complete unedited premiere episode, with its original 1966 commercials intact.

The creation of producer Dan Curtis, Dark Shadows tells the tale of the Collins family, a seemingly white-lace patriarchal dynasty that runs a New England town out of their family estate. Into this world enters young nanny Victoria (Alexandra Moltke), who soon learns there’s more to the family than meets the eye.

The series later went into overdrive when mysterious relative Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) moved into the dilapidated estate next door. Soon the household was beset with werewolves, witches and ghosts. The cast included Joan Bennett, Louis Edmonds, and Barnard Hughes. DVD bonuses are a new Dark Shadows introduction with Moltke (Victoria Winters); a Dark Shadows history with Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans); the original network promo; and episodes 1-35.

The photo above is of actor Jonathan Frid, the original Barnabas Collins. Can’t you just see Johnny in this role?!

Johnny Depp, Depp, Dark Shadows, Jonathan Frid, Variety, Graham King, Sweeney Todd, Shantaram, Dan Curtis, Alexandra Moltke, Kathryn Lee Scott, Barnabas Collins, Barnard Hughes