Johnny Depp 'Black Mass' Release Date, Movie News: Crime Drama Ups & Downs

The crime drama Black Mass, starring Johnny Depp and Adam Scott, and directed by Scott Cooper of Crazy Heart, will follow the story of real-life crime boss, Whitey Bulger (Depp). Depp has been attached to the film for some time and will most certainly be the highlight of this film built upon actual events of the Irish Mob in Massachusetts. The production has had some ups and downs as far as coming together as a production, but now it is set to hit theaters in September bringing us Depp in yet another role where he becomes that quirky criminal that you can't help but care about.

Rumors have it that Scott Cooper was convinced to do the film through influence and assistance of Leonardo DiCaprio, who had helped produce Cooper's movie Out of the Furnace, and also played the role of a figure similar to Whitey Bulger in The Departed (2006). Other costars include Dakota Johnson, Benedict Cumberbatch (replacing Guy Pierce who dropped out for "undisclosed reasons"), Juno Temple and Kevin Bacon.

Reportedly, there were a few complications regarding Depp's salary and he originally left the project, which was then shelved. However, Depp later returned to the title role and filming resumed, making it the fourth time that he has played the part of a real-life organized crime boss. His roles as Donnie Brasco in Donnie Brasco (1997), George Jung in Blow (2001) and John Dillinger in Public Enemies (2009) all garnered praise.

Black Mass is written by Jez Butterworth and based on the book called Black Mass: The True Story of the Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and Irish Mob by Dick Lehr and Gerald O'Neill.  Bulger was an Irish mobster involved not only money laundering but also violent crime including invovlement in 19 murders. His brother was a state senator at the time and Bulger made the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for over 12 years. The film is set in (and was shot in) South Boston and follows the friendship of Whitey with John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) of the FBI. 

The film has a violent premise with a few laughs thrown in and I think it's safe to say that we can anticipate a very balanced film. One scene in particular dseems to sum up the personality of Depp's character. Depp (as Bulger) sits down with his six-year-old son and says something to the effect of "it doesn't depend on what you do or who you do with, but that if no one sees it, then you can't get caught." The film will be released September 18. You can check out some of the first trailers here: