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.