Johnny Depp, about to hit the big screen playing bank robber John Dillinger in “Public Enemies,” may yet bring Sebastian Dangerfield, the lead character of JP Donleavy’s classic novel “The Ginger Man,” to life on the big screen.

The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star has been a longtime fan of Donleavy, the New York-born Irish-American author who has lived in Ireland for many years, and has spoken of his admiration for the book.

Donleavy has said in the past that Depp would be a good man to play the lead role, and recently told the Irish Independent that the project still has legs.

"I can't say too much, but we've met a few times and discussed it, certainly," Donleavy told the Irish independent. “He is a very literate and charming man. It's been a long-standing interest of his, so we will have to see."

The novel, which was first published in 1955 was initially banned both the States and Ireland for obscene language, has never been adapted to film. The 83-year-old Donleavy has often commented that he did not know if he would live long enough to see it happen.

Depp is no stranger of things Irish, as he has often played with Shane MacGowan and counts him among his friends.