Johnny Depp on the set of “Public Enemies”
Jonny Depp and the crew start filming ‘Public Enemies’, in which Depp plays 1930’s bank robber John Dillinger.
Press reports tell that Johnny and his film crew will be in Columbus, Wisconsin for a few more days, before moving on to film at other locations.
Columbus Prepare for ‘Public Enemies’
Set contractors are busy remodeling downtown Columbus, Wisconsin, for the movie ‘Public Enemies‘, which is expected to start shooting next week.
They’re making alterations to some stores to fit the movie about bank robber John Dillinger, starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Oscar winner Marion Cotillard.
Director and University of Wisconsin grad Michael Mann said that Columbus has just the right history for the movie location.
There are more than 240 homes and businesses on the National Historic Registry. In fact, the entire downtown is a historic district.
NBC Universal plans to spend $20 million of the movie’s $150 million budget in Wisconsin.
Columbus Mayor Nancy Osterhous said that the local lumberyard, restaurants, hotels and other businesses are the beneficiaries of that spending.
Osterhous said that Columbus has plenty of snow cover, but she said that the movie makers will add some artificial snow to shoot the winter scenes.
Another filming location is the Milwaukee Historical Society, which once was a bank and still has a vintage vault.
Johnny Depp to Portray Salvador Dali
Johnny Depp is holding auditions to find screenwriters for the Peter Rawley-produced ‘Dali’ picture and he is going to depict Spanish painter Salvador Dali in the movie.
He is holding an open audition to seek for screenwriters as he wants the best possible script he could get. A source commented the scribblers audition saying,
“He’s open to working with anyone, from housewives to pensioners, if the script is right.”
All he needs now is a script. And apparently he doesn’t really care who it comes from, just as long as it’s good.
Depp is not the only Hollywood star set to portray the eccentric artist on the big screen.
Al Pacino and Peter O’Toole are being lined up to star in rival movies, ‘Dali and I: The Surreal Story’ and ‘Goodbye Dali’.
‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’ Will Not Be Altered
Work on ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus‘ resumed on Monday after Heath Ledger’s death halted filming on the project earlier this year.
In his honor, Hollywood superstars Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law have signed up to feature in the film, which is due for release next year.
However, the film’s director, Terry Gilliam, and producers have promised to preserve every detail of Ledger’s final performance, and that the hiring of the three new stars will not affect his work.
Producers working on Heath Ledger’s final film have vowed not to alter the tragic star’s last performance, even though the actor never got the chance to complete the project before his untimely death.
A statement released by the movie’s producers reads,
“Since the format of the story allows for the preservation of his entire performance, at no point will Heath’s work be modified or altered through the use of digital technology.
“Each of the parts played by Johnny, Colin and Jude is representative of the many aspects of the character that Heath was playing.”
“I am delighted that Heath’s brilliant performance can be shared with the world.
“We are looking forward to finishing the movie and, through the film, with a modicum of humility, being able to touch people’s hearts and souls as Heath was able to do.” Gilliam said.
Ledger had finished shooting scenes for the fantasy movie in London just days before he was found dead in his New York apartment in January.
‘Pirates of the Caribbean 4′ in 2011
Walt Disney have been planning to release the fourth installment of its most successful trilogy ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 4‘ in 2011.Though many reports are conflicting on how the studio get on the fourth film, many favors that the fourth film will focus solely on the renowned Captain Jack Sparrow.
Further, it was said that as the studio is trying to downsize the film’s budget, the fourth installment would probably have a lighter take on the special effects.
Although there has been no definitive word yet on if or when Walt Disney Pictures and producer Jerry Bruckheimer might set sail on a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie, indeed, both the cast and the filmmakers said while promoting last summer’s Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End that the franchise would be taking a well-deserved break, rumors have now surfaced about the plot to Pirates 4. So, The production might not begin until sometime between 2009-2011.
Johnny Depp is all but set to reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow. Also reportedly expected to return are co-star Geoffrey Rush.
It could be disappointment for fans that Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley are not expected to be back, but it’s not official yet.
”Pirates 4 “would toss the Elizabeth & Will characters [portrayed by Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, respectively] over the side in favor of doing a bawdy buddy picture which would star Jack Sparrow & Barbossa. Where both captains of the Black Pearl would initially be competing for the exact same prize.But eventually all the double crossing would have to stop as these two rivals were then forced to join forces in order to defeat some supernatural terror.”
The first three ‘Pirates’ films which features Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley have been extremely successful as it gained millions of dollars each.
The first film ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ has grossed $305.4 million domestically and $654.3 million worldwide.
Further, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’ got better reception by earning $423.3 in North America only and over one billion dollars around the world, while the third ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End’ reached $961 million in its worldwide sales.
‘Dr. Parnassus’ has been saved
Despite the tragic death of pic’s star Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell have all signed on to play Ledger’s character, Tony, in the film.
So, Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus”, probably has been saved from cinematic doom.
In the fantasy pic, ‘Tony’ steps into three different dimensions, each transporting him into a new world, worlds which will now be inhabitated by Depp, Law, and Farrell.
No word yet on when production will resume but the film is on board for a 2009 release.
Other cast members include Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield and Verne Troyer.
Heath Ledger’s ‘Imaginarium’ Role Filled by Depp, Law and Farrell?
There are much speculation about the fate of “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” and who will replace Ledger’s position in the movie. AICN have come up with the news saying that the film has three Hollywood actors signed in to fill the role.
The movie news site claimed that it has been confirmed that Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell have stepped into the project and is going to fill in the lead role left by the late actor. It was also reported that by doing the role, they are going to pay tribute to Ledger. They will also bring up their own interpretation of the character to the film.
Though the additional cast members have been confirmed, other details about when the film will start filming hasn’t been outed.
