Johnny Depp can probably make just about any role work, whether he fits it or not. Johnny Depp as a pirate? Come on, who really saw that working? But sometimes, a role comes along that just seems perfect for him. This is one of those roles.

The Hollywood News says Johnny Depp is in the running to play perished former INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence, in a film called Slide Away. The title is a nod to a duet Hutchence did with sunglasses obsessed U2 front man Bono. Whether the short life of another self-ended rock star from a mid-level eighties band is worth making a biopic out of is probably open to debate, but if you’re going to make it I can’t think of anyone better than Johnny Depp for it… provided he’s not allowed to actually sing.

So far this is probably all just rumor. Other names being thrown around with Depp’s as part of the cast are Hayden Christiansen and Eric Bana. Hayden hasn’t exactly been busy post-Star Wars. I’d like to suggest that there’s a reason for that. Here it is: he can’t act. Eric Bana is a brilliantly talented actor, and he’s Australian, which probably explains his involvement.

Also in the running for other roles are names like Dakota Fanning, Naomi Watts, Sienna Miller, Eva Green and some other actresses you probably don’t care about. The film’s producers are looking at top line Australian writers to pen the flick, including Stephen Elliott and Jacqueline Perske. Anyone else think it’s a little odd that they’ve named the movie before they have a script, or for that matter even anyone to write a script? At least they have a director. It’s Nick Egan, a guy who directed INXS music videos and not much else.

Our friend Richard over at FilmStalker says that there are rumors Michael’s father wasn't exactly on board with a film about his son. But then if I were him I wouldn’t want the world reliving my son’s rather humiliating death again either. And of course, it’s unlikely that Michael’s former bandmates will care much either way, since they recently moved on and replaced him with a hack singer discovered via the low rated reality show “Rockstar INXS”.