Johnny Depp is in talks to star as Houdini in a new movie.

The 50-year-old actor could be set to take on the role of the famous magician, Harry Houdini, in Lionsgate and Summit's film 'The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero', directed by 'Red 2's' Dean Parisot.

The screenplay has been written by Noah Opprenheim, based on the book by William Kalush and Larry Sloman, and looks at Houdini as more of an Indiana Jones character who is an investigator of the world of the occult, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Depp's producing partner Christi Dembrowski is in talks to come on board for the project, along with Frank Marshall, who worked on 'The Bourne Legacy' and Bruce Cohen, who produced 'Silver Linings Playbook'.

Depp, who is currently working on Whitey Bulger's crime drama 'Black Mass', is also set to star in to Disney blockbuster franchises this year, 'Pirates of the Caribbean 5' and 'Alice 2', known as 'Through The Looking Glass'.

According to sources, Lionsgate want to start filming the Houdini movie in November this year, which would mean pushing the production of the next 'Pirates of the Caribbean' film to early 2015 at the least.

Depp has also wrapped on 'Mortdecai', co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Ewan McGregor, after teaming up with Lionsgate. It will be released on February 6.