Johnny Depp talks 'Don Quixote', a '21 Jump Street' cameo, and 'Dark Shadows'

Okay, there's quite a bit of Depp news to get to so I'll start with The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. Back in May, there was news that Terry Gilliam was resurrecting The Man Who Killed Don Quixote almost a decade after his first attempt failed. Unfortunately it looks like Johnny Depp won't be signing up again because he's booked from now till the end of time:

I love Terry and I'd do personally anything the guy wants to do," Depp said. "The thing with 'Quixote' is that my dance card is pretty nutty for the next couple of years, so I'd hate to put him in a position to wait for me. That would be wrong."

"We went there and tried for something and whatever it was - the elements and whatever got up beneath us were there and were documented well in that film 'Lost in La Mancha.' I don't know if it's right for me to go back there," Depp said, sounding almost afraid of the 'La Mancha' curse. [CHUD]

Gilliam probably expected this, because he was ready to go even without Johnny Depp. It's enough to make you wonder who the lucky replacement will be.

Now, on to the adaptation of 21 Jump Street. Apparently the remake's star Jonah Hill realizes that the Internet hates his idea to adapt the TV show (I never watched the show, so I can't get on the angry bandwagon, but NO SHIT). Depp, the original star of the TV show, actually likes the idea of the remake. He told MTV he also likes the idea of doing a cameo:

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And finally, here's a Dark Shadows update from Bloody-Disgusting (via Empire). Dark Shadows could be the next Tim Burton/Johnny Depp movie after Alice in Wonderland. Depp says that the script is "very close" and they'll "probably attack it next year."

Dark Shadows was a gothic soap opera that aired from 1966 until 1971. The show included ghosts, vampires, zombies, werewolves, and cast members often portrayed more than one character. Also, the special effects were atrocious, but Johnny Depp loves the show.

Okay, a lot of people will say Burton has done this before, but this is what he does best. When Burton has veered off his style, it usual ends up with disastrous results. Planet of the Apes anyone?

News on Terry Gilliam's 'Don Quixote' (like for real this time), Depp as Sinatra, and 'Public Enemies' clips

Is today Johnny Depp day or something?

According to Variety, Terry Gilliam will resurrect The Man who Killed Don Quixote, almost ten years after his first try failed. You'll remember that the film was plagued with everything from monstrously bad weather (a flash flood on day two of shooting) to lead actor, Jean Rochefort's back injury.

But, despite the hell it's been trying to bring Don Quixote to the big screen, it looks like Gilliam really will be able to get the film off the ground again. Gilliam will now work with producer Jeremy Thomas, and screenwriter Tony Grisoni, who also drafted the first script. Grisoni and Gilliam have rewritten the script, and the new version involves a filmmaker who joins forces with Don Quixote and unconsciously becomes Sancho Panza.

So, where does Depp fit in with all this? Terry Gilliam is reportedly in talks with Johnny Depp, but because of scheduling problems, it's far from a done deal. Depp or no Depp, Gilliam hopes to shoot The Man who Killed Don Quixote in the spring of 2010. You can watch the only six minutes of the film that were finished to get a feel of the project:

Now on to the Depp as Sinatra business. Niki Finke is trying to make Depp happen. Yesterday there was the announcement that Martin Scorsese really, truly is going to do the Frank Sinatra biopic. According to Finke, Universal Studios is very interested in Johnny Depp playing Sinatra. I'm a Depp cultist, but even I think this choice is a weird. Finke also says that Scorsese may be interested in Leonardo DiCaprio in the role which is something I (foolishly) didn't even expect. I just assumed that Scorsese would draw the line, considering the amount of biopics they have either done or plan on doing. And not to mention DiCaprio being an even weirder choice than Depp. I'm almost as big a DiCaprio cultist as I am a Depp one, but this is getting ridiculous and so predictable it isn't even fun to predict anymore. Despite the weirdness of Depp as Sinatra (then again, when is Johnny not weird?) I must admit, I'd be quite interested in seeing him work with Scorsese for the first time.

And finally, for your viewing pleasure, are two exclusive clips from Public Enemies: