Depp to Co-Star with Jolie in ‘The Tourist’

Published by Jeff Leins on: November 4th, 2009

Johnny Depp is in talks to replace Sam Worthington in The Tourist, Spy Entertainment’s thriller that just got a whole lot more interesting.

If he signs, he would play the title role, an American mixed up in an international operation to bring down a global criminal.  The traveler crosses paths with the thief’s stunning girlfriend, who uses him to throw off authorities.  Angelina Jolie is attached to the play the femme fatale character.

That’s a pretty great combination for an otherwise average-looking premise, but it beats the earlier alternative when Tom Cruise and Charlize Theron were on board together.

Worthington and possible director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck both left the project in the last month over “creative differences,” according to Variety, though neither were officially signed yet.  Nikki Finke’s sources say Donnersmarck was “difficult and demanding.”  The producers are considering other filmmakers now, including Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men).

Jolie’s involvement was contingent on finding a director she approved of and that would be able to shoot this in the rapidly approaching month of February 2010.  This somehow fits into Depp’s busy schedule, who is awaiting production of another collaboration with Tim Burton, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, and the Lone Ranger.