By TAYLOR FARNSWORTH
Contributing Writer
Despite a summer of touring with his band, The Hollywood Vampires, Johnny Depp’s attempts to reclaim the public’s interest in what has been a not as successful as his past but still quirky acting career with the announcement of his role in the film “Labyrinth.”
Depp will be playing Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective Russell Poole, who dealt with controversy over his findings of his investigation of the murders of rappers Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace, better known as Biggie Smalls.
The film is based on Randall Sullivan’s book, “Labryinth”. The book focuses on Poole’s investigation into the death of Shakur and Wallace as well as Poole’s controversial findings.
According to Poole’s investigation, he theorized that there were ties between the deaths of those rappers with police officers and Death Row.
Poole’s conclusions resulted in the legal case against the city of Los Angeles by Voletta Wallace, Wallace’s mother, in 2005. Five years later, the case was dismissed.
Many people have discounted Poole’s findings. Los Angeles police detective Greg Kading did his own research on the cases back in 2006 and came to the conclusion that it was not corrupt police officers that killed the two rappers, but instead gang members.
Poole resigned from the department in 1999 when the Los Angeles Police Department no longer allowed him to continue his investigation of the murder of Biggie Smalls.
Poole’s theories resulted in not only the book, but also a 2002 documentary by Nick Broomfield called “Biggie & Tupac.”
Sullivan’s book, along with Poole’s conclusions, resulted in two law suits once the book was published.
The film is going to be directed by Brad Furman, who recently directed “Infiltrator,” a film about the capturing of Pablo Escobar, and produced by Miriam Segal.
Furman and Segal are hopeful that during the Toronto International Film Festival potential buyers will invest in this film, allowing for production to begin later this year.
Despite the gossip over the allegations that Amber Heard, Depp’s ex-wife, brought against him about domestic violence this summer, Depp’s personal life does not seem to be hindering his professional career.
Whether or not Depp’s role as Poole will bring Depp back to being seen as an award-winning actor is in question.
