Johnny Depp will play the head of the Irish mafia in the new film directed by Barry Levinson. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor will play the lead role in the biopic dedicated to James "Whitey" Bulger, the former leader of organized crime in Boston.

The film will be called "Black Mass". It will be based on the book Black Mass: The True Story of the Devil's Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mafia, written by Boston Globe reporters Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill. Filming for the project will begin in May. The film will be produced by Cross Creek Pictures and Exclusive Media.

Bulger led the Irish crime syndicate Winter Hill in Boston since the 70s of the last century. In 1975, he was recruited by FBI agent John Connolly, and Bulger became his informant. Their cooperation continued until the 90s, but then the FBI decided to arrest the mafioso, who was suspected of involvement in almost 20 murders.

In the mid-90s, the bureau began preparing an operation to capture Bulger, but Connolly, who had a friendship with the mafia, warned him. Bulger then fled. He was caught only in 2011. By that time, the former head of the Boston gangsters was 82 years old. His friend Katherine Grieg, who had been hiding with him all these years, was arrested along with him.

Levinson's film will not be the first film dedicated to the biography of Bulger. Previously, his image was used to create the film “The Departed” in 2006 - he became the prototype for Frank Costello, played by Jack Nicholson. Currently, Ben Affleck is also producing a film dedicated to Bulger. In his film, Matt Damon will play the famous mafioso, and Casey Affleck will play the role of Bulger’s younger brother, who later became a senator from Massachusetts.

Barry Levinson's latest directorial effort is the horror film The Bay. Its premiere took place at the end of 2012. However, he gained the greatest fame as the author of the film “Rain Man,” which was released in 1988 and won four Oscars.

Johnny Depp will become the leader of the Irish mafia