Johnny Depp on12/5/07 at a Sweeney Todd screening. Credit: Apega/WENN
Beloved actor and father of two Johnny Depp, 45, says he’s heard those rumors that he’s being vetted to play the Riddler in the next Batman installment. He says he’d love to do it, but no one’s asked him yet. At least that’s what I read into it. Depp’s answer is somewhat open to interpretation. The film isn’t quite in the casting stage either. As Elisabeth Rappe at Cinematical mentions, as long as we keep these rumors going there’s more of a chance that Depp can score the role:

At last, the focus of at least one obsessive Batman 3 rumor has adressed. Johnny Depp was recently on a Florida radio show promoting the reunion show of his band, The Kids. (I know how the girls love Johnny, you can listen to the entire interview in two parts here.) A persistent fan called into the station to remind them to ask Depp about playing the Riddler for Christopher Nolan.

Depp’s answer was essentially a denial and as enigmatic as well, the Riddler. “Oh yeah I heard about that. Not that I know of. It seems like it’d be a fun gig for a while, yeah.”

A denial isn’t surprising since we know Nolan isn’t even signed, let alone writing or casting. But given that the rumor machine is going regardless of that fact, here’s more fuel for the fire. There’s no doubt Depp would do a fine job. He could probably play me to perfection. And he’s open to taking just about any role that interests him. So, those of you keeping score can mark Depp as “interested” and various news agencies that don’t read these things carefully can report it as “confirmed.” For my part, I’m going to go ahead and tell my sister that Depp is “totally doing Batman 3” because that’s one way to interest her in the franchise. Except then she’ll start working on a Riddler costume for a certain lookalike. Never mind, then.

[From Cinematical]

Given the enormous record-setting box office success of The Dark Knight, there’s little doubt that a sequel will soon be in the works. The film topped $500 million in domestic box office sales this weekend, making it the only film besides Titanic to take in half a billion dollars. They’re going to squeeze that franchise for all it’s worth, and we’re going to continue eating it up.

Johnny Depp was promoting his longtime band The Kid’s charity performance at a South Florida venue on Friday. Here’s a link to a photo of sweat-soaked Depp performing, and here’s a video featuring highlights from the show. The guy can certainly rock out. Depp’s 9 year-old daughter Lily-Rose, and his girlfriend, Vanessa Paradis, were among the audience of 2,500 who came to the gig.

There’s a rumor that Depp rented a pretty amazing mansion on the waterfront in Fort Lauderdale where he docked his 143 square foot yacht. Depp and his family are said to have stayed primarily on the boat even though the mansion was right there and to have even had pizza and beer delivered to the yacht. Here’s the link to that article, but it has automatic video of an aerial view of Depp’s yacht so beware if you’re at work.