There have been plenty of really quite terrible adaptations of Dr. Seuss books. It takes a rare talent to convert a children's picture book to a full-length film with any degree of success and most people in Hollywood don't have it. But now it seems as though the good doctor will be gracing the big screen in a different manner: in a new biopic set to star Johnny Depp.

It won't be the first time Depp has starred in a film about a popular children's writer. He's played J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, and he's appeared in many an adaptation of children's lit. Of all major players in the industry, Depp does seem to have the right balance of weight and whimsy for the role. 

After all, Dr. Seuss (born Theodore Geisel) didn't start out as the author of zany illustrated tales. He was rather a politically-minded fellow, drawing comic strips and political cartoons during World War II. There's no word yet on whether the screenwriters will be including that period of his career in the biopic, but I think it's safe to say Depp could shoulder a wartime performance as well as any. He hasn't been given enough opportunities recently to flex his chops as a dramatic actor, I don't think, and if the tone of this film is right, it could provide a welcome return to real acting for him. 

The movie is currently being developed by Illumination Entertainment and Infinitum Nihil, with Keith Bunin at work on the screenplay. In addition to starring, Depp will co-produce. The project's producers say there likely won't be a large CGI-budget, meaning we might see the author's story given a decent live-action treatment devoid of the gimmicks usually associated with Dr. Seuss on screen. (Though they haven't completely ruled out animated accents within the film.) Speaking of which, a film treatment of The Lorax is due to hit theaters in March. Illumination is also working on that one alongside Universal. It'll be a computer-animated version of the classic book and while it likely won't be very good--I can't imagine the poignant, reflective little story stretched out to a loud, 90-minute kids' blockbuster--it might at least get kids thinking environmentally. Which would be a political, if not artistic, victory, I guess. At least it would be in keeping with Geisel's original intent. 

Illumination is currently at work on a sequel to Despicable Me, so we probably won't see the Seuss biopic in theaters until at least 2013.