Johnny Depp a Thin Man?

Johnny Depp is to play the lead role in an adaptation of 'The Thin Man'.

The Hollywood heartthrob is keen to get 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' director Rob Marshall to direct him on the project, which he is looking to develop a script on with producers Infinitum Nihil, Vulture blog reports.

'The Thin Man' tells the story of Nick Charles, a detective who gives up his job when he marries a wealthy socialite, ending up an alcoholic.

However, he is drawn back for one last job investigating a murder, and he takes his wife along with him.

However, Marshall is already in talks to work a movie based on the musical theatre show 'Wicked' - a prequel to 'The Wizard of Oz' focusing on the lives of the Wicked Witches - which has a script already prepared, meaning 'The Thin Man' could be some way off going into production.

Depp, 47, is currently filming 'Pirates' but has no other projects coming up having wrapped on 'The Tourist' with Angelina Jolie earlier this year.