Depp IS Mad Hatter!

As was previously rumored, Disney announced today at a press event in Los Angeles that Johnny Depp has signed on to play the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s ALICE IN WONDERLAND. The film will be shot using performance capture technology (most similar to BEOWULF) and will be presented in 3-D.

More interesting news in the way of Depp and Disney is that it seems that the man might be starring in Jerry Bruckheimer’s THE LONE RANGER as well. At the end of the event, the USC marching band came out to play “The William Tell Overture” and from behind a curtain came out Johnny Depp in full Captain Jack regalia. Only difference was that he was wearing a Lone Ranger mask. There was no formal confirmation that Depp would be starring but Disney chief Dick Cook prefaced Depp’s appearance by rhetorically asking the crowd who could possibly play The Lone Ranger. UPDATE – IESB has confirmed that Depp has signed on to play Tonto in THE LONE RANGER.

So two Depp birds with one stone today! Pretty impressive. I have to say I’m intrigued to see what he brings to both films. ALICE will begin filming first with Mia Wasikowska starring as Alice. Stay tuned as more news comes out of the Mouse House!