After playing a pirate in “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, versatile Hollywood actor Johnny Depp is set to play the Mad Hatter in the film version of “Alice in Wonderland”. Thesun.co.uk reports the movie will be shot in 3D and Depp teams up with his friend and collaborator, director Tim Burton. The two have worked together on six movies.

A source said: “Burton has had designs on ‘Alice In Wonderland’ since before he was famous. He has a knack for turning what seem like stories for just kids into gripping, spooky fables loved just as much by adults. He’s held out on doing ‘Alice’ till he got a big enough budget. Now this film is financed by Disney so money won’t be a problem.”

Unknown actress Mia Wasikowska will play Alice. Production will start next year and the release is planned for the summer of 2010.

Director Terry Gilliam, now in post-production on THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS, Heath Ledger’s final film, was interviewed recently at the Ischia Film Festival. Gilliam had high praise for Ledger, calling him “a genius.” He also complimented the three actors–Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell–who stepped in to complete Ledger’s role in PARNASSUS after his untimely death last January:

TERRY GILLIAM: The great thing about it is that when Heath died, and we have a character that wasn’t finished in the movie, those three actors [Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell] came along and saved the day. And so the character is now basically four actors creating one character. And that’s . . . it’s very interesting, and maybe even more interesting than it would have been with one actor going all the way through. I’m still not the best judge, because I have in my head what the film was going to be with Heath all the way through, and now there’s a different film there. But all I know is, it’s very funny.

Gilliam sounded proud of his film and genuinely awed by the generosity of the actors who came forward to save the picture and ensure its completion. Despite their high profiles, Depp, Law, and Farrell took no compensation for their work; instead, they donated their salaries to Heath Ledger’s two-year-old daughter, Matilda:

TERRY GILLIAM: The three actors were totally heroic coming in. This doesn’t happen very often . . . where there’s a tragedy like this, and very famous, very successful actors suddenly say, “Okay, we’ll do whatever it takes to help.” They came; they did the work; they allowed the movie to be finished; they didn’t take money–the money goes to Heath’s daughter. That’s extraordinary! And wonderful . . . and when you’re part of that, you think, “Ah, this is maybe why I went into the movies, in the beginning. I thought it would be full of wonderful people. And in our case, we’ve got a movie full of wonderful people, who did extraordinary things to help.

Thanks to The Zone and FANtasticJD for the heads up; you can hear the full inteview HERE; click on the button that says “Interviews” in the upper right, and then select “Interview Terry Gilliam.”

Pamela Anderson’s rock star ex-boyfriend Tommy Lee wants Johnny Depp to play him in a movie.

The Mötley Crüe drummer, 45, is making a film about his life and band — and thinks the Pirates of The Caribbean star would be perfect as the leading man.

He says, “Johnny Depp would be my choice to play me. He’s the best ever.”

But Lee — who recently rekindled his romance with Baywatch babe Pamela — and the rest of Motley Crue are not quite ready to give Depp a call yet.

“We’re working on it,” he adds. “We’re trying to find the right producers and director and all that sort of stuff.”
Source: Showbizspy

Johnny Depp didn’t make any Public Enemies at the wrap party for his upcoming flick.

Unlike his pilfering Jack Sparrow, the real-life J.D. was all generosity when it came to showing the Public Enemies cast and crew a good time at Chicago’s Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse. The 45-year-old star hosted a 50-person party and covered each and every head, a source tells OK!.

“Johnny’s a true class act,” a source tells OK!. “He picked up the tab and left a great tip!”

Such magnanimity isn’t new for Johnny. Last month, he kept his word to a 12-year-old fan and sent a fedora he wore in Public Enemies to the young boy when production wrapped. Also in the package? Gifts for the boy’s siblings and a personal note.

Source: OK Magazine

Public Enemies has ended, and Johnny is apparently enjoying some vacation time, until starts a new project.

Look this picture, how pretty:

GALLERY LINK
• On Board – July 03

Thanks to Hiro3 for scanning these. Added scans from August issue of Roadshow. I mean, it’s the booklet that came with the August issue of Roadshow.

Also, there’s a newly released picture book in Japan called “Johnny D Good.”. Hiro3 scanned only a few pictures, but according to Amazon.jp the book has 152 pictures, 52 being new to print.

Johnny D Good!: Johnny Depp Ultimate Guide”
Size: 29.4 x 20.8 x 0.8cm
Price: 1,500 JPY
93 pages
ISBN-10: 4862141919
ISBN-13: 978-4862141910

GALLERY LINKS
• JohnnyDGood Japanese Picture Book
• Roadshow August 08 – Johnny Depp 80’s booklet

Johnny Depp finishes filming his last few scenes and then pops open a cold bottle of cerveza after wrapping up Public Enemies in Arcadia, Calif. on Monday.

Depp, 45, had a bag of gifts for the cast and crew that he passed around the set. Stephen Dorff received an antique wooden toy pistol as they toasted to coronas.

Public Enemies is due to be released in July 2009.

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, is a documentary film that is narrated by Johnny Depp and will have a limited release on July 4, 2008.

GALLERY LINKS
• Public Enemies: last day of filming, Arcadia