Johnny Depp has reached that coveted stage in an actor’s career, where he can pull out of a movie, if his conditions aren’t met – which is exactly what happened with the upcoming White Bulger biopic, Black Mass. The project is based on the 2001 book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob by Boston Globe writers Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill.

The film’s Cannes pitch didn’t sway too many investors and, as a result, the budget was limited to just $60 million, according to the Hollywood Reporter. But when Depp’s fee got cut in half – to just $10 million, the actor didn’t accept the terms. And neither did his management. Depp was attached to the project way back in February and his contract was confirmed a few weeks later. Now the flick, helmed by Barry Levinson, is in urgent need of a star, with shooting starting this summer. But the project has had some luck as well, with Joel Egerton signing up to play a disgraced FBI agent.

As for Depp, the actor has a plethora of other projects to keep him busy in the near future. Depp’s next project will be Wally Pfister's Transcendence, which is already in production. His next film to be released is The Lone Ranger in July and the actor is also set to work on Into The Woods and Pirates of the Caribbean 5, all for Disney.

Johnny Depp, The Late Show
The actor can afford to pick his projects.

Johnny Depp, Walt Disney Studios
And Black Mass won't be one of them.