Johnny Depp and Pirates to Set Sail Again

• Sep 25, 2008 05:00 PM ET
• by movienews

Johnny Depp has a new business partner: Mickey Mouse.

The Sweeney Todd star revealed Wednesday that he has signed on for three flicks from Walt Disney Studios, including a fourth swashbuckling Pirates of the Caribbean adventure.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the announcement came at Disney's Wednesday preview of upcoming movies and projects at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. Depp capped off the day by surprising the packed house with an appearance in full Jack Sparrow regalia.

But the biggest surprise came in Depp's entrance music: The loudspeakers blared "The William Tell Overture," otherwise known as the theme song to The Lone Ranger. Depp will be playing Tonto, The Lone Ranger's sidekick in the studio's upcoming version of the hero's tale, also produced by Pirates' Jerry Bruckheimer.

Depp will also play the role of the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, scheduled for a release in 2010. The flick will be shot in 3-D using performance capture technology that was most recently seen in Beowulf.

Which of this batch of Depp's Disney adventures are you most excited to see? - Adam Bryant