JOHNNY DEPP TO STAR IN REX MUNDI FILM

[MattBrady]

According to the Los Angeles Times, Johnny Depp is Dr. Julien Sauniere.

That would be the lead character in the film adaptation of Arvid Nelson's Rex Mundi. Jim Uhls, who adapted Fight Club will write the screenplay based on the comic series (which recently moved from Image to Dark Horse). Depp will both star and produce the film through his Infinitum Nihil (Infinite Nothing) production company.

From the Times:

Rex Mundi (King of the World) posits an alternate present of 1933 in which the Reformation never happened, the Inquisition is still in full swing, Europe remains dominated by the Catholic Church and the rest of the world consists of colonies. Depp, who became the biggest movie star in the world this summer by reprising his Keith Richards-inspired swashbuckler, would play a pathologist investigating the mysterious death of the priest who found him as an orphan.

"It's a noir-ish 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' " Uhls says. "There are murders and a mystery, and the lead character discovers a massive conspiracy, biblical in its origin." Though it may sound an awful lot like a "Da Vinci Code" rip-off, Depp will surely sport less offensive hair than Tom Hanks, even if he decides to base this new character on John Lydon (Johnny Rotten).

Or - as Dark Horse describes the series:

In a Paris where magic is real and the Catholic Church never lost its political power, one man's quest to solve a murder may lead him to the Holy Grail itself!

Doctor Julien Saunière continues his investigation into the theft of a mysterious medieval scroll, only dimly aware of the forces tugging him to the doorstep of the powerful Duke of Lorraine. Lorraine wants to provoke a massive, globe-spanning war that will soak the world in blood-but why? The answer to that question, a deadly confrontation in the ancient catacombs beneath Paris, and a blasphemous revelation about Judas, Christ's betrayer, all await Julien in this volume of the critically acclaimed series Rex Mundi!

[martinp]

I am excited about the movie but I fear I might be getting a little "Depped" out. Too much Johnny in too many movies.

[Ye Olde Iowa]

I've never read any Rex Mundi, but hot damn if this doesn't sound awesome.

[kingofcities]

Originally Posted by martinp

I am excited about the movie but I fear I might be getting a little "Depped" out. Too much Johnny in too many movies.

He's in like one to two movies a year?

Congrats to the Rex Mundi crew. This should be a great movie.

[whippis]

Rex Mundi is outstanding. Hoping DH can maintain even the bi-monthly format for what I believe will be the final 18 issues.

As for a movie- could be good. I rather see Deep play it seriously, maintaining the tone of the comic and not silly like those rediculous (and boring) pirate movies.

[ZAXILLA2]

Love the Depp. this is great news

[kalorama]

Originally Posted by martinp

I am excited about the movie but I fear I might be getting a little "Depped" out. Too much Johnny in too many movies.

Depp is hardly a ubiquitous cinematic presence. For a guy who's been making movies for over 20 years, his big screen portfolio is actually relatively thin.

[xomanowarfan]

Very cool. Should be interesting.

[Darthphere]

Originally Posted by kalorama

Depp is hardly a ubiquitous cinematic presence. For a guy who's been making movies for over 20 years, his big screen portfolio is actually relatively thin.

Yeah but the hooting and hollering about every overrated perfromance he does makes it seem like more.

[martinp]

Originally Posted by kalorama

Depp is hardly a ubiquitous cinematic presence. For a guy who's been making movies for over 20 years, his big screen portfolio is actually relatively thin.

You are right. And he is a talented & diverse actor. I guess I have seen a lot of his newer movies just recently myself (Corpse Bride, Pirates of Caribbean, Finding Neverland, Willy Wonka). I also heard recently that they are starting to work on Sweeny Todd - one of my favorite stange musicals. Edward Scissorhands is still one of my favorites. In fact, his collaborations with Tim Burton have always been stellar in my opinion. I will definitely be interested to see his portrayal of in Rex.

[NightRiver]

Cool. I never did get a chance to read the series. Maybe its time to give it a try. Where Should I begin? Do i need to read anything before readint he Dark Horse relaunch?

[Vyper]

That is so awesome!

Also, for the "Da Vinci Code ripoff" comment - uhm, Rex Mundi started coming out back in 2002 (well, the 0 issue did), before the DVC was published. The quest for the Holy Grail is hardly original to DVC.

Oh, man, I am so excited about this I can't even think straight. This is gonna be SO AWESOME!!!!

[Charlie Hustle]

Originally Posted by martinp

I am excited about the movie but I fear I might be getting a little "Depped" out. Too much Johnny in too many movies.

huh? he's not in that many movies.

[BillReed]

Huh.

[martinp]

huh? he's not in that many movies.

Boy, do I feel the love for Johnny in this room. Again he is a good actor. I don't disagree with that. But since 2003 he has released at least 7 movies, most of them big movies.

Pirates of the Caribbean 2
Corpse Bride
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Finding Neverland
Secret Window
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Pirates of the Caribbean 1

That is not even mentioning Pirates part 3 and Sweeney Todd which are already scheduled for release next year(2007). Some but not many actors can claim a four year resume like that.

[nightwingoracle]

Originally Posted by martinp

I am excited about the movie but I fear I might be getting a little "Depped" out. Too much Johnny in too many movies.

this is an ignorant statement. Depp doesn't do that many movies...and the majority of them are different from the ones that come before them.

He's a versatile actor...this is a great role for him.

[BriGuy]

Congrats to Arvid! Whoo-hoo!! Depp'll be great in this role!

[BriGuy]

Originally Posted by NightRiver

Cool. I never did get a chance to read the series. Maybe its time to give it a try. Where Should I begin? Do i need to read anything before readint he Dark Horse relaunch?

There are trade collections of the issues prior to the move to Dark Horse.

[martinp]

Depp doesn't do that many movies...and the majority of them are different from the ones that come before them.

He is playing the exact same role in three Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

[c_andrew_s]

This is awesome news for an amazing book

[Kolimar]

HELL YEAH!!!




Funny, I was just thinking about this very subject. A wish come true.

[kalorama]

Originally Posted by martinp

Boy, do I feel the love for Johnny in this room. Again he is a good actor. I don't disagree with that. But since 2003 he has released at least 7 movies, most of them big movies.

Pirates of the Caribbean 2
Corpse Bride
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Finding Neverland
Secret Window
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Pirates of the Caribbean 1

Seven movies in 3+ years is hardly a prodigous output, esp. when one of them was a voiceover part in an animated film. And the only "big" movies on that list are the Pirates films and (maybe) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The rest were either independents or smaller studio films. And aside from Pirates most of those movies underperformed at the box office (although, for reasons I still don't quite get, Neverland did manage to score some Oscar nominations).

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by martinp

He is playing the exact same role in three Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

Nice joke.

[Kolimar]

One more for The complete list of comics-based movies

[deathmasterj]

Wow!!!! Well dont to Arvid for this one! i can't wait!