A LIT CLASSIC HEADS FOR THE BIG SCREEN

... And not just any lit classic. Infinitum Nihil has acquired films rights to Nick Tosches 2002 novel "In the Hand of Dante" that will be developed as a potential star vehicle for Johnny Depp reports Variety.

The story revolves around Dante Aligheri's masterwork "The Divine Comedy," and tells parallel storylines involving Dante in 14th-century Italy as he tries to complete the work, and a contemporary storyline involving Tosches, who is asked to authenticate what might be Dante's original manuscript.

What's more, Depp also begins work in March on "The Rum Diary", an adaptation of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson's work in which Depp will play the late cult figure (yet again). Bruce Robinson directs.

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JOHNNY DEPP PIC AS MAD HATTER (FAKE? LEAKED?)

This pic is all over the web today. Many think it's first look at Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s 3D adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland."

Dunno... Just seems fake. Right? Kinda like Heath Ledger's fake Joker test shots from way back.

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CLOONEY AS 'THE LONE RANGER' ???

This could be cool... Very cool in fact. Earlier this week, The Mouse House announced that they signed none other than Johnny Depp to play Tonto in a big screen adaptation of "The Lone Ranger." But how do you equal or TOP that??

AICN's sources claim that George Clooney has shown mucho interest in the role.

So whaddaya think?? Clooney with dual six guns and silver bullets?? With Johnny Depp waxing poetic by his side? Could work ... And certainly better than Nic Cage who was once up for the role.

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DEPP AS RIDDLER? HOFFMAN AS PENGUIN?

Even though "Dark Knight" helmsman Chris Nolan is on the down-low, the interwebs are ablaze that Warner Bros. suits know exactly who they want the third Batman film's villains to be and who they want to play them.

Talking with MTV News, Michael Caine revealed that he not only heard the rumors of the various villain casting choices for the next film floating throughout the media, but that he brought up the topic with a Warner exece who seems to have confirmed that some of them were right.


He says:

"I was with [a Warner Bros.] executive and I said, ‘Are we going to make another one?’ They said yeah. I said, ‘How the hell are we going to top Heath? And he says ‘I’ll tell you how you top Heath — Johnny Depp as The Riddler and Philip Seymour Hoffman as The Penguin.’ I said, ‘S–t, they’ve done it again!."

Hoffman's name as a British or Russian arms dealer version of 'The Penguin' first floated around in 2006, right after "Batman Begins" but before the villains of "The Dark Knight" were set. Depp's link to 'The Riddler' is more recent but the most talked about of the rumors and Depp himself recently said he'd be open to considering the opportunity.

Personally, I hope they keep it to one villain -- Depp would have a field day. Why do these Bat-films insist on stacking up bad guys??

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'SWEENEY TODD' JUMPS THE GUN ON BIG BEN

The creative think tank and mad men publicists over at Paramount and DreamWorks just have to be kicking themselves in their collective keesters. In a moody promo shot for the new musical "Sweeney Todd," Johnny Depp sits by an attic skylight, with the Big Ben clock tower visible through the glass. Unfortunately, the film about the demon barber of Fleet Street, is set in the early 19th century - 50 years before the famous tower was even built.

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BURTON'S 'SWEENEY TODD' TRAILER

We're officially stoked. Check out Tim Burton's new trailer for the upcoming musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

Sweeney Todd is a fictional villain/antihero whose actual existence, whether under a different name or not, is disputed. A barber and serial killer, the character appears in various English language works starting in the mid-19th century. His weapon of choice is a straight razor, with which he cuts his victim's throats; in some versions of the story his lover, friend, and accomplice, Margery (sometimes Nellie or Claudette) Lovett, bakes the carcasses into meat pies.

In two books, the horror and crime story writer Peter Haining argues that Sweeney Todd was a historical figure who committed his crimes around 1800. However, other researchers who have tried to verify his citations find nothing in these sources to back Haining's claims

As with most Tim Burton projects (we'll forget the awful "Planet of the Apes"), the period piece looks Gothic, comical, creepy and lavish all at once. Bravo and enjoy ...

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