JOHNNY DEPP is tipped to play BATMAN villain THE RIDDLER in the next installment of the comic book movie series, the CM reported.
After the huge success of The Dark Knight, which has taken $440 million (GBP220 million) at the worldwide box office, producers are confident they can convince Depp to take on Christian Bale's Batman on the big screen.
And, according to the National Enquirer, studio bosses also want Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman onboard to play another of the Caped Crusader's arch-foe, the Penguin.
The Riddler was played on the small screen in the 1960s by Frank Gorshin and in 1995 movie Batman Forever by Jim Carrey. Hoffman would be stepping into the shoes of TV and movie Penguins Burgess Meredith and Danny DeVito.
A source tells the Enquirer, "(Producers) are convinced that the role of the Riddler is perfect for Depp. Johnny's a pro. He'll be able to take direction from director Chris Nolan and still make the character his own.
"And what better Penguin is there than Philip Seymour Hoffman."