In 1997, Johnny Depp starred in one of my favorite mob movies: Donnie Brasco. Eighteen years later, Depp is taking a role in another film about organized crime, but this time he’s on the opposite side of the law, portraying one of the most notorious gangsters of all time.
Directed by Scott Cooper, Black Mass stars Depp as James “Whitey” Bulger, a prominent Mafia figure who became an FBI informant in exchange for protection. The relationship eventually soured, and Bulger went on the run in 1994, spending more than 16 years evading authorities before his capture in 2011, at the age of 81.
Check out the first Black Mass trailer below, courtesy of Apple.
The trailer is mostly comprised of a single scene, but does a masterful job of building tension. Depp has spent the past few years doing mostly comedic work, so it’ll be nice to see him sink his teeth into something with a little more substance.
While Depp takes center stage in this clip, he’ll find himself accompanies by a stellar supporting cast, including Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard, Jesse Plemons, Corey Stoll, Rory Cochrane, Sienna Miller, and Adam Scott.
Black Mass opens in theater on September 18.
In 1970s South Boston, FBI Agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) persuades Irish mobster James “Whitey” Bulger (Johnny Depp) to collaborate with the FBI and eliminate a common enemy: the Italian mob. The drama tells the true story of this unholy alliance, which spiraled out of control, allowing Whitey to evade law enforcement, consolidate power, and become one of the most ruthless and powerful gangsters in Boston history.
black mass johnny depp scott cooper