alt Disney Studios held a showcase announcing a long list of new titles. The event was a glitzy media extravaganza filled with flashbulbs, overdone presentations, trailers, celebrity appearances, and free food and drink for all. The house that mouse built threw down quite a bit of money to let the world know that they’re still out there spending big money on movies. Most of what was announced was expected and well…boring, but a huge part of the showcase ended up being dedicated to the one and only Johnny Depp. The studio proudly announced that they had Depp lined up for three productions: Tim Burton’s 3D Alice In Wonderland, Pirates Of The Caribbean 4, and a Lone Ranger movie (in which he’d play Tonto). The first two Depp-centric announcements weren’t very surprising, but that third one sure is a doosey.

It had been reported for a while now that Johnny Depp would play the Mad Hatter in Burton’s eagerly anticipated adaptation of Alice In Wonderland. The mere fact that Tim Burton is going to take on Lewis Carroll’s classic fairy tale is damn exciting news as is the fact that the film will be in IMAX 3D (now there’s guaranteed eye candy). The Johnny Depp casting is just the icing on the cake. The Mad Hatter is a notoriously insane role that should be perfectly suited to the wild thespian’s skills, but the decision has to ultimately be considered disappointing simply because Depp had originally petitioned for the role of Alice. But, that would have been a ballsy and risky decision and Disney is incapable of making those. I for one would have loved to see Depp play every role since the film is in motion capture. But I’ll settle for the Mad Hatter…I guess.

The Pirates Of The Caribbean 4 announcement isn’t very surprising either. It’s just disappointing. The first Pirates Of The Caribbean film was shockingly good. Basing a film on a theme park ride should have been a terrible idea. But thanks to a witty script, clever direction, and the brilliant casting of Johnny Depp, the movie worked shockingly well. It was like catching lightening in a bottle and everyone involved should have been thrilled that it worked and moved on. Unfortunately the series was expanded into an almost incomprehensible trilogy with two very expensive and disappointing sequels.