Johnny Depp - Johnny Depp lands Black Mass role

Johnny Depp lands Black Mass role

Johnny Depp is to star in 'Black Mass'.

The 'Dark Shadows' actor will reteam with his 'Donnie Brasco' director Barry Levinson to portray notorious Boston gangster Whitey Bulger in the forthcoming crime thriller, Deadline reports.

The movie takes its title from Dick Lehr and Gerald O'Neill's 2001 book 'Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob' and it promises a ''highly complex'' story examining an FBI scandal.

Producer Brian Oliver said: ''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.

'''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 scheduled to begin shooting in May, but does not yet have a release date.

Meanwhile, 'Argo' filmmaker Ben Affleck is also working on his own movie about the mobster, which has his longtime friend and collaborator Matt Damon attached to play the lead role.