Few could argue that Johnny Depp is not due for a change of pace. Collider reports that the troubled 53-year old is set to do just that as he plays L.A. detective Russell Poole in the upcoming picture Labyrinth. The film will chronicle the events following the murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. The story is based off the book of the same name by journalist Randall Sullivan.

Rumors continue to linger over the role played by Death Row Records mogul Suge Knight, with the multi-millionaire being one of the key suspects in the 2002 documentary Biggie & Tupac. In the doc he was interviewed while in jail by Nick Broomfield. Whilst he denies to this day any involvement in the assassinations, the motives and previous convictions do hold weight to the theory that he still has a case to answer for.

Black Mass A Sign That Depp Can Perfect Real Life Characters

The 2015 biographical American crime drama Black Mass was a welcomed return to form for Depp, revisiting the genre that brought back memories of Donnie Brasco. The film rests among others where he successfully brought the seedy underbelly of underworld figures to life with gusto. His performance of Irish-American drug kingpin Whitey Bulger earned plenty of accolades and nominations in Hollywood.

Taking on the character of Poole, who died suddenly last year of a heart attack, will provide Depp with another opportunity bring out his best work. But this time he will be on the other side of the law. Poole was one figure who managed to link a cop-on-cop killing to Death Row Records, a landmark moment that helped to ignite further scrutiny.

First Depp Film Post Amber Heard Split

It would be fair to categorize Depp's past 12 months as difficult to say the very least. Following a high profile legal case with the Australian Government after smuggling in two of his dogs on a private jet, the actor went through a very ugly and public divorce from wife and actress Amber Heard.

Allegations of abuse muddied the waters for Depp. With a leaked video from Heard showing him throwing bottles of wine around their home, adding to the anger and despair of the situation. This casting news will offer respite from those issues as he forges on with his career.