AceShowbiz -

Johnny Depp's representative released a statement on Wednesday, Febuary 27 that confirmed the actor would star in both "Transcendence" and "Black Mass". Depp would first begin working in the sci-fi thriller to be directed by Oscar-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister in April and move over to Barry Levinson's "Black Mass" afterwards.

"Transcendence" is financed by Alcon Entertainment's Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove and will be released by Warner Bros. Pfister will direct the film based on the screenplay by newcomer Jack Paglen. The plot and character details are still kept under wraps, but it is said to be centering on a group of scientists studying the theory of the technological singularity and the creation of a computer that can think for itself.

Following "Transcendence", Depp will start working on "Black Mass" with Levinson in early summer. Depp will play legendary gangster James "Whitey" Bulger. The film is adapted from the book "Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob" by Dick Lehr and Gerald O'Neill which tells the true story of how Bulger dominated the crime scene in Boston during the '80s.

Cross Creek and Exclusive Media are co-financing the film while the production is handled by Brian Oliver and Tyler Thompson from Cross Creek, Le Grisbi Productions' John Lesher and Nigel Sinclair and Guy East's Exclusive Media.

Depp will next be seen as Tonto in Disney's big screen adaptation, "The Lone Ranger". The film directed by Gore Verbinski is out in the U.S. theaters on June 3 and August 9 in the U.K.