JOHNNY DEPP - DEPP BUYS UP RIGHTS TO HORNBY'S NEW BOOK

JOHNNY DEPP has snapped up the rights to acclaimed British author NICK HORNBY's new book A LONG WAY DOWN.

The movie star plans to produce the film version of the book, which focuses on four people who meet one New Year's Eve and form a bond to get through the difficult holiday period.

Movie adaptations of Hornby's books have proven to be very successful in recent years - his soccer comedy FEVER PITCH has been made twice and he's also found success with films based on his books HIGH FIDELITY and ABOUT A BOY.

The new book is expected to hit shelves next month (JUN05), while the film version, which may or may not feature Depp, is expected to be released in 2006.

Depp says, "This book is brimming with some of the most outstanding characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading."