The recent death of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who was poisoned by polonium-210 and accused Russian president Putin or agents connected to Putin of his murder, may soon become the basis of a film starring Johnny Depp. Variety reports that Warner Bros. has acquired the film rights to Alan Cowell’s forthcoming book “Sasha’s Story: The Life and Death of a Russian Spy” for Infinitum Nihil, Johnny Depp’s production company. Mr. Cowell, chief of the New York Times London bureau, has covered the Litvinenko story from the beginning. “As with any Infinitum project,” says Variety, “the film about Litvinenko could be a potential starring vehicle for Depp, who has been closely following the story.” Johnny will produce the film with Infinitum president Christi Dembrowski and Graham King of Initial Entertainment Group.

Mr. Litvinenko’s mysterious death is, right now, a story without an ending; his murder is the subject of multiple ongoing international investigations, including one by the U.K.’s counterterrorism officials, but no arrest has been made.

The Zone thanks Charlotte Depp and DeepinDepp for breaking the news; there is a spirited discussion on the News & Views forum. To read the Variety article, click HERE.