Posted on 12/22/05 at 07:22 AM

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Johnny lines Shane up for Behan role

By Linda McKee
newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

22 December 2005

JOHNNY Depp has pencilled in Pogues legend Shane MacGowan for the role of hellraising writer Brendan Behan in his next film.

The Hollywood star is a long-time fan of the singer and hopes to persuade him to take the part in the film of 'The Ginger Man'.

Depp has also asked JP Donleavy, who wrote the book, to adapt it for screen.

MacGowan played a small part as a drunken minstrel in Depp's most recent film 'The Libertine', but his role was lost from the final cut.

If Shane takes on the role of Behan, whom he paid tribute to in Streams of Whiskey, it will carry a lot of resonance with his own life.

The writer of the celebrated 1958 book 'Borstal Boy' drank himself to death at the height of his fame.

It's a fate many expected for MacGowan, who turns 48 on Christmas Day.

But a few weeks ago, Depp - who played guitar and starred in the video for MacGowan's 1994 single, That Woman's Got Me Drinking - hailed his hero's artistic contribution.

"His intake has been pretty impressive over the years," said the film star. "But he has produced some of the most beautiful lyrics that are a great gift to the world."

MacGowan has just re-released his Christmas anthem 'Fairytale of New York' to raise money for the Justice for Kirsty MacColl campaign.

MacColl, who duetted with MacGowan on the festive hit, died in December 2002 when she was run over by power boat while scuba diving in Mexico.

Her family are demanding that the Mexican authorities re-examine the case, claiming the original inquiry was riddled with corruption.