EXCLUSIVE: Joseph Gordon-Levitt will make his next film Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, the Dimension Films sequel to the stylish noir drama that Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller are directing based on Miller’s graphic novel. I’m told that Gordon-Levitt will play the role of Johnny, a part that the filmmakers originally offered to Johnny Depp. He’s one of the core characters in overlapping story lines that feature returning players like Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Bruce Willis, Rosario Dawson, along with newcomers that include Dennis Haysbert. Other tough guy actors will be added, with Gangster Squad‘s Josh Brolin among the potential names I’ve heard.

At the same time, the canoodling that was going on between Gordon-Levitt and Marvel Studios over the lead in Guardians Of The Galaxy has come to an end. He won’t be starring in the film and Marvel is evaluating its other candidates. Sin City 2 is already shooting, and Gordon-Levitt will mix in his work as he moves through a busy month.

He’ll be at the Sundance Film Festival where his feature directorial debut, Don Jon‘s Addiction, makes its world premiere. Gordon-Levitt also wrote the script and stars with Scarlett Johansson. He’s also hosting the Sundance Awards ceremony that closes the upcoming festival in Park City, Utah. Gordon-Levitt is coming off a strong 2012, where he starred in The Dark Knight Rises and ended the year with Looper and Lincoln. He’s repped by WME.