Johnny Depp playing Whitey Bulger sounded a bit strange, but now that the first image has come out, the idea is starting to make sense. The actor, who is known for making drastic changes from role to role, stars as the currently imprisoned Boston mob boss in Black Mass.
Since the film is due out in September, Warner Bros. is starting to ramp up the promotion. Cinemablend notes that some footage was shown at Cinemacon in Las Vegas Tuesday. The scene featured Bulger (Depp) and FBI Agent John Morris (David Harbour, The Equalizer) having dinner together.
Today, Entertainment Weekly got to share the first image, which shows Depp with a receding hairline, wearing a black coat and carrying a gun.
“He could be charming. He could be ruthless. He was like a cobra—you never knew where he could strike,” director Steve Cooper (Crazy Heart) told EW of his film’s subject. Cooper also praised Depp’s performance.
“It’s easy to be the mustache twirling villain but this performance couldn’t be further from that,” Cooper said. “He is truly gifted.”
Black Mass hits theaters on Sept. 18. The incredible supporting cast includes Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Adam Scott, James Russo and Kevin Bacon.
This is the second “first look” at a Depp movie we’ve seen this week. Just yesterday, we saw the first image from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
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top image courtesy of INFphoto.com