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Thursday, May 30, 2013

Depp Skips Out On "Black Mass"

THR says Johnny Depp has opted out of starring in the crime biopic "Black Mass" over a salary dispute.

Depp was to have been paid his usual rate of $20 million, according to sources, but with sales of the project at 2013 Cannes Film Festival on the soft side, producers were looking to scale down the budget, in the high $60 million range. Depp was asked to take half, according to sources, and the actor and his reps refused. The situation came to a head yesterday.


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.

Australian actor Joel Edgerton was recently set to co-star as FBI agent John Connolly. No word if he'll be able to stay on if and until a replacement is found.

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. Barry Levinson's set to call action.

Brian Oliver, Tyler Thompson, Nigel Sinclair, Tobin Armbrust, John Lesher and Christi Dembrowski will produce. 

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