Depp previously signed on and then skipped out when financing fell apart--until Scott Cooper entered talks to rewrite and direct the film last month. Barry Levinson was set to call action previously.
The story follows South Boston criminal James "Whitey" Bulger, who was betrayed by the FBI after he became an informant to bring down a rival crime family. Bulger was captured in June 2011 in Santa Monica following a 16-year manhunt.
If he joins, Hardy would play his FBI handler John Connolly who was also a childhood friend of Bulger. In the 1970s, the pair joined forces with Bulger turning in his rivals to consolidate his power while Connolly scored the professional benefits of being the man who helped dismantle the mob. Eventually, Connolly was convicted of racketeering, obstruction of justice, and second-degree murder.
Australian actor Joel Edgerton was attached to play Connolly but has moved on.
The film is based on the book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill.
Mark Mallouk penned the first draft of the adapted the screenplay, before Russell Gewirtz took over.
Brian Oliver, Tyler Thompson, Nigel Sinclair, Tobin Armbrust, John Lesher and Christi Dembrowski will produce the pic.
Cooper is said to be working on a rewrite of the script
Filming is set to begin in May.
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