Variety says that Christian Bale (The Dark Knight) is in negotiations to join Johnny Depp in Michael Mann’s upcoming Public Enemies.
According to the trade, Bale will play Melvin Purvis, the legendary FBI agent who led the manhunt for John Dillinger. Depp is starring as Dillinger in the film, which is set up at Universal and is slated to begin production in March.
Mann is producing via his Forward Pass, with Kevin Misher and his Misher Films. Jane Rosenthal of Tribeca is executive producing.
