RUMOR: Depp Joining Smith in 'I Am Legend'

Rumors are rumors and this is still one of them...

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Friday, June 30th 2006 at 2:33 AM

As Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest gets ready to hit theaters on July 7 we are now getting word on Johnny Depp's possible next film as the rumors of him joining the cast of I Am Legend, currently starring Will Smith in the lead role continue.

BlackFilm is the latest news source to bring about the rumor, here is what the site is reporting:

When Will Smith was cast as the lead in the long-awaited adapted film version of Richard Matheson's I AM LEGEND, it was probably the worst kept secret. After all, his name had been floating around the web for the longest time. Until certain outlets that folks feel are the bible of information put the word out to confirm our story, sources tell blackfilm.com that along with Smith, JOHNNY DEPP has been added to the cast. No telling which role Depp will play, but given his penchant for playing extraordinary weird-like characters, expect a juicy plum part, like the neighbor, now one of the living dead.

Depp is rumored to be in line to play the role of Ben Cortman in the pic that tells of an earth in which a mysterious plague has swept the planet leaving in its wake this one survivor, Robert Neville (Smith). But there is still life of a sort–vampires, the strengthless half-dead who press on Neville from every side. He is almost tempted to join them. The role of Ben Cortman is Robert Neville's neighbor and the first to become infected thus making him the "head vampire".

BlackFilm goes on to say that filming is set to begin in September, so hopefully this rumor will be cleared up soon.