Versatile talent Johnny Depp is all-set to make his return to the action comedy genre with ‘Mortdecai’. Based on Kyril Bonfiglioli’s series of four comic-thriller novels, the big screen adaptation will be directed by ‘Spider-Man’ and ‘Mission: Impossible’ writer David Koepp.
This will be Depp and Koepp’s second project together after the 2004 mystery thriller ‘Secret Window’. Depp plays part time rogue, part time suave art dealer Charles Mortdecai, who is on a mission to retrieve a stolen painting supposedly containing a code to a secret bank account, full of Nazi gold. In order to accomplish this arduous task, he has to deal with not only his wife but a global terrorist, pissed-off Russians and the best in British intelligence. Our hero travels to Los Angeles from his native England where hilarity ensues as he tries to locate the missing painting.
Featuring a star-studded cast including: Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Paul Bettany, Olivia Munn and Oliver Platt, ‘Mortdecai’ is one of next year’s most highly-awaited action comedies. The film will also reunite Johnny Depp with funnyman Paul Bettany for a third time, having previously collaborated on ‘The Tourist’ and this year’s science fiction blockbuster ‘Transcendence.’ Bettany will play the role of Mortdecai’s humble servant and protector Jock Strapp.
According to IMDb,producers initially wanted Dutch actress and singer Carice van Houten for the female lead before settling on Paltrow. Houten has recently shot to fame after appearing on the hit TV show ‘Game of Thrones’.
The Wrap reportsthe film will mark the beginning of a new franchise. Lions Gate Entertainment CEO Jon Feltheimer has implied that it will follow in “the vein of Pink Panther”. He also added with regards to the lead role that, “it’s a character that Johnny Depp absolutely loved and would love to do more of.”
The film is slated for release January 2015.