Johnny Depp (creative commons)

Johnny Depp is adding to his list of iconic roles which include the Mad Hatter and Edward Scissorhands. The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Depp is signed on with Universal to produce and star in a biopic about Theodor Geisel, most fondly known as the great children’s author Dr. Seuss.

Depp has previously acted as literary characters The Mad Hatter and Willy Wonka. In 2004 he earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of J.M. Barrie, author of “Peter Pan,” in the film “Finding Neverland.” He has dabbled in a variety of genres from the dark musical “Sweeney Todd” to his eccentric portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean." The addition of Dr. Seuss to his resumé will only add to his chameleonic acting ability. While he is known for his frequent collaboration with director Tim Burton, with whom Depp has been working with as a vampire in “Dark Shadows.” Depp’s latest movie, “The Rum Diary,” hits theaters on October 28th.

Geisel, who died in 1991, has created some of the most fantastical children’s books and sold over 200 million copies worldwide. He started out as a political cartoonist and writer for propaganda films during World War II. It wasn’t until after the war that he began writing books for children including the adored “Green Eggs and Ham.” Many of his beloved rhyming books have already been made into films such as “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and the most recent “Horton Hears a Who.” Another one of Geisel’s works, “The Lorax,” set to hit theaters next March.

Reach staff writer Megan Singson here