Johnny Depp: Dr. Seuss Biopic Movie Planned

While he's once again slipping into the skin of a hard-drinking, hard-charging and foul mouthed writer in a major motion picture this fall, Johnny Depp's next shot at bringing a beloved author to the big screen will be a whole different story.

Starring as Hunter S. Thompson in November's "The Rum Diary," The Hollywood Reporter relays that Depp and his production company are developing a live-action film about the life of Dr. Seuss. Depp has the option to star as the famed author, who, real name Theodor Geisel, penned some of the world's most famous children's books, including "The Cat In The Hat," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!," and "Green Eggs and Ham."

Depp has also played J.M. Barrie, who wrote "Peter Pan," in "Finding Neverland." He has a strong history with bringing to life children's books, starring both as Willy Wonka in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and The Mad Hatter in "Alice in Wonderland."

Aside from their famed TV specials, a number of Seuss's books have been made into feature films over the last decade or so. Jim Carrey starred in 2000 in a live-action "How The Grinch Stole Christmas," which opened to mixed reviews but earned $345 million worldwide. Mike Myers' 2003 version of "The Cat In The Hat" did not fare so well, taking in only $133 million, while the animated "Horton Hears A Who" netted $298 million in 2008.

Depp is currently filming an adaptation of the 60s supernatural soap opera, "Dark Shadows," and will also feature in another literary adaptation, Dashiell Hammett's "The Thin Man."

For more, click over to The Hollywood Reporter.