Johnny Depp Gets Involved With 'The Libertine'


Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean) is set to play another rogue, in the 17th century The Libertine, according the Variety.

Depp will star opposite John Malkovich and Samantha Morton in a tale based on the true story of John Wilmot, the Earl of Rochester, who was a poet, courtier and notorious rake.

Samuel Johnson described the earl (Depp) as having "contempt of decency and order, a total disregard to every moral and a resolute denial of every religious observation. He lived worthless and useless and blazed out his youth and health in lavish voluptuousness." Little wonder, then, that the earl was a confidant of King Charles II (Malkovich). The earl's undoing, as well as his death at 33, came after he found himself smitten with Elizabeth Barry (Morton), a failing actress.

Libertine is set to go into production on Feb. 23 outside London.

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