After a number of problems in pre-production (Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson dropping out, Johnny Depp exiting over pay), the fact-based organised crime pic BLACK MASS is now moving ahead with OUT OF THE FURNACE’s Scott Cooper at the helm and Johnny Depp officially all signed up and back onboard. The film, based on the 2001 non-fiction novel ‘Black Mass: The True Story Of An Unholy Alliance Between The FBI And The Irish Mob’ by Dick Lehr and Gerald O’Neill, is being joint produced by Cross Creek and Exclusive Media.
BLACK MASS will chart the rise infamous hoodlum Whitey Bulger from low-level street thug to FBI’s most wanted after the Boston-based kingpin was allowed to continue his ruthless reign of crime despite playing snitch for the law. However, he disappeared for over a decade after being linked to racketeering, money laundering, extortion and murder during his time as an informant. Bulger, who will be played by Depp, was finally apprehended in 2011 at the age of 81 and only months ago was convicted to two life sentences.
Cooper recently departed Warner Bros. adaptation of Stephen King’s THE STAND over creative differences, which has allowed him to be available. Joel Edgerton, who was set to star as the FBI handler Bulger worked under to evade prison – John Connelly – is no longer part of the project. LAWLESS and MAD MAX: FURY ROAD actor Tom Hardy is said to be in advanced talks for the role.
For those not in the know, the figure of Bulger has inspired many mob-like movie characters with both Jack Nicholson in Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED and the late Pete Postlewthaite in Ben Affleck’s THE TOWN, based on the career criminal.
Source: Deadline
