Johnny Depp to play immortal wizard in Skulduggery Pleasant

London: Hollywood heartthrob Johnny Depphas been roped in to play an undead skeleton wizard,Skulduggery, in a new fantasy movie.

The Tourist star will play the lead character in inthe wizard movie based on a nine-book fantasy series by Irishauthor Derek Landy, Contactmusic reported.

The film slated for a 2013 release traces the story of12-year-old Stephanie Edgley who is plunged into a magicalworld where she meets a skeleton wizard, played by Depp.

"The books will make a fantastic series of films,"a source said.

However, it won't be the first time the 47-year-oldactor will be playing a swashbuckling character who is famousfor his onscreen quirky and fantasy characters in films likePirates of the Caribbean and Snow White and the Huntsman.