Depp is courted for Wrexham film

It is hoped Johnny Depp will be on board within three weeks

Hollywood's Johnny Depp is being courted to star in a film about a drug addict who turns his life around after living on the streets of Wrexham.

Shooting of Addict, based on the best-selling biography of writer Stephen Smith, is to start this summer.

Lord of the Rings and King Kong star Andy Serkis has already been signed up to direct the movie.

Mr Smith said he was in talks and hoped to sign up Pirates of the Caribbean star Depp "within three weeks".

The 61-year-old writer said the film will be all about his life as a young man addicted to amphetamines who drifted into crime and ended up living on the streets of Wrexham for a few months.

"It's a horror story with a fairytale ending - irregardless of how low you go with drink and drugs you can still get out of it," said Mr Smith, who now lives in Germany with his wife and family.

Begging

He said he came to Wrexham 26 years ago simply because he was thrown off a train with no ticket. He found the locals very "hospitable".

"In those days there wasn't the Big Issue on the street, there wasn't begging on every corner," he said.

"If anything (as) a young boy on the streets with a London accent I was a novelty."

Later the writer emerged from a toilet pub to meet a German student, whom he later married, and his life was gradually turned around. They now have two grown-up sons.

Lord of The Rings star Serkis has already signed up as director

Filming will begin in various locations around the UK in late August, he said, with the idea will show a "collage" of his life as a drifter. Scenes will also be shot in Malta and Munich and the film will go on release in the UK next March.

Andy Serkis who played Gollum in Lord of the Ring and who is in this summer's blockbuster King Kong has already been signed up as the film's director, according to Mr Smith.

Signing Johnny Depp in the lead role would be the "cream on the cake".

"I think it's his type of role- he will relish it," Mr Smith said: "We hope in a few weeks to have the deal signed and sealed and you'll see Johnny Depp on the streets of Wrexham."

For Hollywood giant Depp, the role could be almost a reprise of one he took in Blow in which he played a cocaine king.

It could also mean a return to Wales for the actor who filmed some of the scenes for The Libertine in Tretower Court, near Crickhowell in Powys in March 2004.

A spokesman for Wales Screen Commission which handles film and television productions said they had not been contacted about the film.

National co-ordinator Mike Wallwork said: "We've not been contacted by the film company and the project is not known to the UK Film Council".