Might Johnny Depp be joining Tom Hanks in director Kathryn Bigelow’s Sleeping Dogs?

Kathryn Bigelow’s latest sure doesn’t feel like it’s gonna be short on star power.

Deadline is reporting that the director is looking to cast Johnny Depp in SLEEPING DOGS (formerly TRIPLE FRONTIER and still subject to change), her dramatic follow-up to last year’s Oscar-winning THE HURT LOCKER. Just a couple of days ago, it was reported that Tom Hanks was eyeballing one of the film’s five main roles (two of which are major leads).

“The picture [is] set in the organized crime haven that exists in the border zone between Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil,” writes Deadline.

Depp apparently likes the part, as well as the idea of working with Hanks, but his participation is dependent on figuring out a schedule that will work for him. Come February, the actor will begin production with his long-time collaborator Tim Burton on the film DARK SHADOWS. But, since SLEEPING DOGS is shaping up to be a potential awards darling, everyone involved is evidently looking for a way to allow Depp to do both.

Hanks and Depp together would make for a pretty interesting combination, so I hope it works out. What say you guys to this potential casting?