Image Credit: Eric Charbonneau/WireImage.comEverybody knows Johnny Depp is a big fan of Keith Richards and that he based his Pirates of the Caribbean character Captain Jack Sparrow on the legendary Rolling Stones guitarist. But did you know he is also a keen admirer of non-fiction films? “I’m a psychotic for documentaries,” says the actor. “I adore them, you know.”
Given these two enthusiasms, it was perhaps only a matter of time before Mr. Depp got round to making a documentary about Mr. Richards, which is exactly what he is now in the process of doing. “It’s coming along great,” says the actor of his second directing gig, after 1997’s drama, The Brave. “Any time that he’s got a minute, any time I’ve got a minute. We’ve done one, let’s say, installment that was fairly intense. We shot for a few days, and we got 35 hours of footage. That’s me and Keith sitting and talking in a room that’s very, you know, apropos of Keith. We’re sitting on couches, having a drink, and talking.”
In addition to the interview footage, the as-yet untitled film will also contain performance material featuring Richards, members of his band, the X-Pensive Winos, and famous guests. “We had Patti Smith, which was miraculous, we had Norah Jones, and I think there’s going to be a few more,” says Depp, “I think we’ve probably got two more installments [to film] and then we’ll start cutting it together.”
The documentary will be the third movie collaboration between Depp and Richards. The pair both appeared in 2007′s Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and will reunite in the forthcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. “It was perfection!” says Depp of working with Richards on the latter project, which is due out May 20.
Although the Richards documentary has no release date as yet, Depp says the film will definitely get a theatrical run of some sort. That would befit a movie which was shot by Pirates cinematographer Dariusz Wolski and which, according to Depp, looks like a “a cross between The Godfather and a painting by (famed 17th century Italian artist) Caravaggio. It’s really something to see Keith in that atmosphere.”
For more about On Stranger Tides, and all the rest of the stuff you’ll be watching, hearing, and reading in 2011, pick up the new 2011 Preview! issue of Entertainment Weekly, which hits stands today.
More on Keith Richards:
You can’t do blow if you’ve had a brain hemorrhage… And nine other ‘Life’ lessons from Keith Richards’ autobiography
Keith Richards claims Mick Jagger is ‘unbearable’ and has a ‘tiny todger’ in his autobiography
More on Johnny Depp:
This Week’s Cover: Johnny Depp talks exclusively about ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ and the possibility of ‘Pirates 5′
Johnny Depp says he wouldn’t change a thing about ‘The Tourist’—EXCLUSIVE
This Week’s Cover: When Angelina Met Johnny for ‘The Tourist’
People’s Choice Awards: The most awkward moments (and the winners)
‘Alice in Wonderland’ DVD review
Johnny Depp, ‘Inception’ top IMDb’s year-end polls
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