Entertainment Weekly devotes the cover of their January 9, 2009 issue–the one that features “The New Year’s Must-See Movies”–to a photo of Johnny Depp in his role as John Dillinger in Michael Mann’s upcoming Public Enemies, due to arrive in North American theaters on July 1, 2009. To see a larger version of the cover, CLICK HERE. EW reporter Chris Nashawaty also conducts a brief interview with Johnny Depp in this issue. Here are a few highlights:

EW: How did this movie come about?

JD: It came at the time of the writers’ strike. A wave of fear gripped the industry. And out of nowhere this script arrived with a note: “Michael Mann would like to talk to you about playing Dillinger.”

EW: What was your reaction to hearing that?

JD: Well, certainly intrigued. Intrigued by both Dillinger and Michael Mann. It’s always interesting to get in the ring with a director and explore their process and see what does it for him.

EW: And what does it for him?

JD: The details of the details of the details. [Laughs] They should invent a word to describe it, because it’s not just details, it teeters on microscopic obsession with every molecule of the moment. Which is admirable, you know? You got to salute that.

The Zone salutes Emma for providing the interview and Theresa for the EW cover. You can read much more on the Zone’s News & Views forum. –Part-Time Poet