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BREAKING: Johnny Depp is negotiating to star in Transcendence, the directorial debut of Oscar-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister. The project is being put together for an early 2013 shoot by Alcon Entertainment co-founders and co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove. Alcon will release through its output deal with Warner Bros.
The screenplay, written by newcomer Jack Paglen, was developed by Annie Marter and Straight Up Films, whose company principals include Marisa Polvino, Kate Cohen and Regency Boies. Polvino, Marter and Cohen will produce along with David Valdes (The Book Of Eli), Johnson and Kosove. Boies will co-produce. The plot of Transcendence is being kept under wraps.
Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas are serving as executive producers and Alcon is financing. Pfister won an Oscar for his cinematography on the Nolan-directed Inception. He has done seven films with Nolan and Thomas, including The Dark Knight Rises and Memento. He was also cinematographer on Moneyball and The Italian Job.
Depp is repped by UTA.
Said Kosove and Johnson: “Johnny Depp is one of the most charismatic, talented actors imaginable and we are delighted he is with us on this project.”
Pfister called Depp “a creative and intelligent artist whom I feel will bring great depth to the character and the overall narrative.”
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is this the one where he plays a machine? What’s wrong with him? No one wants to see you being weird anymore. It’s gotten old. . Look at what Mark Whalberg is doing , or Pitt, or Clooney, or Ben Affleck even. You should have done Argo. Or the Borne movies. No more freaky deaky characters or you become a joke.
onewholovesdepp
He needs to do big commercial movies. That’s his sweet spot, both creatively and commercially. That’s where the half a billion dollars of box office and some of his most memorable, comedic characters come from. He is great in COMEDIC roles — not creepy, weird, dramatic ones.
I don’t think JD “needs” to do anything. The man owns an island. He can do what he wants and he’s always good at doing just that.
He’s not Pitt, Clooney, Affleck and especially not Whalberg. His gift is doing weird, his gift is doing unusual, his gift is doing wild characters. He’s not a leading man, he just gets paid like one.
He’s an original and.. that’s how I like him.
Depp needs to play Houdini. That is what would be cool.
Great choice!
Casting Depp = good for studio. Casting Depp = bad for first time dorector.
why? (the second statement)
“a creative and intelligent artist…”
Wally Pfister is also describing himself. Truly hope Wally can provide the stage for Johnny Depp to once again use his great acting skills without a mask.. That would be nice.
Best wishes to Wally.
Did anyone happen to see HOW AWFUL Lone Ranger looks? With Johnny as Tonto? This guy never plays leading men anymore. He’s going the way of Nic Cage. One sequel after another. What a waste for such a good actor. They’re probably trying to book him up before lone ranger comes out.
What’s this one about?
I’ve only seen three movies in which Depp was an effective actor; but alas, Transcendence doesn’t appear to be a pirate movie. Yes, I know there were four “Pirates” movies, but the last one sucked so bad that I had to leave it out.
okay, so let’s deduce this: The cinematographer for Moneyball and Italian job – but neither Pitt nor Wahlberg do the movie. Chris Nolan is producing, but no Christian Bale. Translation: They passed, and Johnny is fifth on the list. Why?
Deduce this.
There is no director, casting director, or studio head that ever put Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale on a casting list ahead of Johnny Depp. What a ridiculous comment. If Johnny Depp is fifth on a list, it’s because Leonardo Dicaprio passed 4 times. If you add up Wahlberg and Bale’s fees does it even come close to what they’d have to pay Depp to be in a movie?
Thats a stretch. There is such a thing as going for the biggest fish first. Or maybe they wanted the guy who would best fit the role. Or maybe they wanted the guy that could secure the best overseas box office numbers. Or maybe they wanted a lead who will also guide a first time director… I suppose if you think movies only get made by the same people working together over and over, well then we would only have one movie.
He’s made some terrible choices, and while I don’t know this script, if he’s really playing a machine it’s a bad move. I think they’re right. He should look at what the other actors in his age range are doing. He’d have been great as Sherlock Holmes.
As long as he doesn’t do anymore pirate movies, I think he’s okay. He needs to play a leading man, but he’s still the best actor out there. I think. No more sequels. No more character roles. Play a leading man. ANd the audience will be there for you!
You’re wrong. He’s boring as a “leading man”. His real strength is playing unique characters in otherwise broadly accessible concepts. Those are some of his most memorable performances for a reason — who even remembers his characters in Finding Neverland, Chocolat, or Secret Window?
Depp was fantastic in Finding Neverland. Just because you apparently see no value in a nuanced portrayal of a less-than-bombastic character doesn’t mean nobody else does.
Really? Because if you look at his filmography, the most successful films are the ones where he played offbeat characters. People don’t flock to the theaters to see him in typical leading man roles.
Depp is a great actor (and this sounds like a good project) but the movie studios need to realize that he really shines (and pulls in the mass audience) in more accessible, high concept movies. Anyone who’s expecting to get a Pirates of the Caribbean or Alice in Wonderland size hit out of an edgier, R-rated, low-concept script is going to be disappointed with the box office results. As a fan of his work, I love seeing him do artistic films, but my kids (early and mid teens) and my wife (late 40s) would only buy tickets to see him in something commercial and accessible. I should note that Johnny Depp is my wife and two kids’ favorite actor.
What’s with all the hate on this board? Not one person here has even read the script! Be happy for Johnny and Co. Peace.
So, now everyone is judging this film even before you know anything other than the title. Lot of really smart, intelligent people here. I seriously doubt if Johnny Depp was “fifth choice” for anything. And the Lone Ranger looks great.
Depp is one of the greatest actors out there. it’s about time to see him in something worthwhile again. this one sounds promising.
Attention Johnnie Depp:
Go to Leonardo Di Caprio’s reps. Or Brad Pitt’s. You are being ill advised. You need to do a sexy film like Oceans 11. Or a leading man like Money ball. Stop playing over the top characters. We’re over it.
Johnny Depp is a mega movie star because he’s a truly versatile performer. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are good actors, but not mega movie stars. They only play a slight variation on the exact same persona (their own) time and time again. Following their career paths would be a huge mistake for Johnny Depp. If DiCaprio or Pitt had the acting chops and charisma of Johnny Depp, they would be doing the exact same kinds of big movies that he does. And their movies would be bigger successes and find larger audiences. But they don’t.
Tracy Jacobs used to pride herself on the choices her client’s make. Now she’s just trying to bilk them for a buck. You’ve single handedly ruined his career. Lone Ranger? Really?
You know, there was a time when it looked suicidal for Depp to star in a PIRATE MOVIE directed by the guy who made an ASIAN HORROR REMAKE, distributed by DISNEY based on A THEME PARK RIDE. But no one seems to remember that now. And how familiar it sounds to hear those same voices deriding the ability of Bruckheimer/Verbinski/Depp to do it again with a famous western masked hero.
Jack Paglan is the man! Rooting for this one.
I second that! Jack is going to be a huge huge star.
I hope Transcendence trancends to great heights. Guys, what you aren’t noticing is that Mr. Nolan is attached to this project. He allowed Guy Pearce to shine in his most memorable role in Memento that earned him an Oscar nomination which was turned down by Brad Pitt. I believe there are many more layers to Johnny Depp but he is getting typecasted which is been the problem. Hopefully, Wally brings in more depth in Johnny’s character in this movie. As a thought, Johnny should do a Quentin Tarantino movie, look what he has made up of Leonardo Di Caprio in Django Unchanged.
He’s already a joke. Been one for years. He’s one that believes his own shit, thinks he’s the man. DUDE!! YOU ARE A JOKE!!!!
Johnny DEPP would be interesting playing an Everyman. That’s a role he’s never tried on and it would be interesting. Personally, I think no one is better- but Lone Ranger looks like the nail that was plunged into rich Ross’ coffin. Like wild Wild West reboot. Johnny has got to stop with all the fear and loathing roles and pirate roles and do what really scares him. Play a lead. Ill be first in line. Not Tracy’s fault. I hear he barely talks to her… These decisions like them or not are all him