First official look at Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger in Black Mass

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Johnny Depp has not exactly proven himself worthy of his extra large paychecks in recent years. With flops critically and commercially like THE LONE RANGER, MORTDECAI, TRANSCENDENCE, DARK SHADOWS, and more, Depp has not shined the way he did just five years ago. But, from all indications, that is about to change with Scott Cooper's BLACK MASS.

Based on the true crimes of gangster Whitey Bulger, BLACK MASS just received a lot of buzz out of CinemaCon based on the first footage and trailer for the film. While we don't have that to share yet, we do have the first official image from the film showing Depp virtually unrecognizable. Check it out below.

The film tells the true story of how Bulger, the brother of a state senator (Benedict Cumberbatch), became the most feared gangster in Boston while simultaneously serving as an FBI informant to take down the Italian Mafia.

According to Cooper, Depp's transformation chilled those who knew the real life Bulger. Word coming from those who have seen the film are saying this is a return to form for Depp and will be talked about as a potential awards contender. Here's hoping this is not just buzz and actually has some bearing behind it. Stay tuned for the trailer in the near future.

BLACK MASS also stars Adam Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Corey Stoll, Jesse Plemons, Jim Sheridan, Joel Edgerton, Juno Temple, Kevin Bacon, and Sienna Miller. It hits theaters on September 18th.