'Sweeney Todd' star will voice the animated lead

Johnny Depp will reunite with director Gore Verbinski on "Rango."

The Paramount feature will be very different from Depp and Verbinski's previous collaborations on the mega-blockbuster "Pirates of the Caribbean" features. To begin with, "Rango" is an animated film.

According to Variety, Verbinski came up with the idea for "Rango" and John Logan wrote the script. ILM will provide the CG animation for the feature with an eye toward a March 2011 release date.

Depp will voice the main character, a pet who "goes on an adventure to discover its true self."

It's expected that Depp will begin character work with ILM and Verbinski in January.

Last seen in an Oscar nominated turn in "Sweeney Todd," Depp has completed work on Michael Mann's "Public Enemies" and Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," both slated for 2009 release.