And that's just the tip of the Black Pearl -- Depp has also signed on to play the manic tea-party-loving Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's live-action "Alice in Wonderland" and the Lone Ranger's trusty Native American sidekick Tonto in producer Jerry Bruckheimer's upcoming "Lone Ranger" flick.

 

On the "Alice" front, Depp and Burton -- who first worked together in 1990's "Edward Scissorhands" and most recently collaborated on "Sweeney Todd" -- have formed one of the longest-running director-actor partnerships in modern Hollywood. When Burton committed to filming a new live-action/CG-animated version of "Alice"; Depp was touted as the most likely candidate to play the Mad Hatter -- after all, having worked with Burton on "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" he's practiced in wearing a top hat.

 

Mia Wasikowska, the young Australian actress who appeared in HBO's "In Treatment" has the film's title role while Matt Lucas, who stars in the comedy series "Little Britain" and the forthcoming "Little Britain USA" is set to play the dual roles of Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

 

"Ranger" meanwhile, puts Depp back in business with Bruckheimer, who produced the "Pirates" movies. Tonto is the Native American colleague of cowboy hero the Lone Ranger. The casting could stir up controversy with Native American groups, who might accuse the studio of putting a white actor in the role. One factor that could counter such an argument is Depp's mixed ancestry, which includes German, Irish, and Cherokee.

 

"Ranger" is being written by "Pirates" scribes Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio and has no director at this time.