Despite being nearly a decade old, “Black Mass” quickly entered Netflix’s Top 10 in the U.S. within just a day of being added to the catalog, according to FlixPatrol. Johnny Depp always proves his star power, and this film is no exception.
Directed by Scott Cooper, this gangster movie is based on the life of notorious Boston mobster James “Whitey” Bulger. It traces his rise to power as he forms a secret alliance with the FBI, eliminating rivals while building his criminal empire.
While Depp shines as the standout in the role of Bulger, the supporting cast—featuring A-list talents like Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Joel Edgerton, and Jesse Plemons—holds its own. If you’ve just revisited the picture and want to dive deeper, here are 10 intriguing facts to explore.
10 shocking facts about Johnny Depp’s portrayal in ‘Black Mass’
1) Many of the murder scenes were filmed at the actual locations
Some directors believe that locations play a crucial role in shaping a film, and Scott Cooper is certainly one of them. For “Black Mass,” many of the murder scenes were filmed at the actual spots where the real-life killings took place. From the streets of Essex St. and Highland St. in Chelsea, Massachusetts, to the Polish American Club, these places have witnessed chilling history twice.
2) Johnny Depp tried to contact James “Whitey” Bulger to prepare for the role
It’s no secret that Johnny Depp is one of the most talented actors of his generation, known for immersing himself deeply into his roles. According to IMDb, Depp attempted to contact James “Whitey” Bulger directly to prepare for “Black Mass,” but was unsuccessful. Instead, Scott Cooper brought in some of Bulger’s former associates as consultants to guide Depp’s portrayal. Their verdict on his performance? “That’s Whitey.”
3) Johnny Depp and ‘Black Mass’: From hate to love
It’s fascinating to explore Johnny Depp’s journey with “Black Mass.” Initially, he dropped out of the project due to salary disputes, leading to a temporary halt in production. However, Depp later returned, ultimately creating a film he still considers the best of his career as of 2024. Plus, in an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, the star revealed that he broke his personal rule of not watching his own movies for this one, thanks to Scott Cooper’s encouragement, and he’s glad he did!
4) Why is the picture titled ‘Black Mass’?
The title “Black Mass” is inspired by the ritual of the same name, which is an inversion of the traditional Catholic Mass, performed for malevolent purposes rather than good. This reflects the theme of the production, where the Catholic criminals portrayed deviate drastically from Christian values to commit heinous crimes. Additionally, the title hints at the corruption in the setting of the story, Massachusetts.
5) Actors and actresses who were considered but didn’t make the cut
The concept for this film originated in the 2000s, and like many long-gestating projects, it saw numerous celebrities considered for roles who ultimately didn’t make the final cut. For instance, Guy Pearce was initially cast as William Bulger but later dropped out. Tom Hardy was considered for the role of John Connolly, while Margot Robbie and Jennifer Lawrence both turned down the part of Lindsey Cyr due to scheduling conflicts. Additionally, Anna Kendrick, Felicity Jones, Blake Lively, Scarlett Johansson, and Anne Hathaway were all considered.
6) Johnny Depp and his deep blue eyes
If you thought Johnny Depp went to great lengths to prepare for his role as one of the most dangerous mobsters, wait until you hear this. The light blue contact lenses Depp wore in “Black Mass” were inspired by the eyes of prop master Brian Bull. While working together on “Tusk,” Depp admired Bull’s eyes and asked if they could be photographed so he could have custom lenses made for his next project. The rest is history!
7) Have you seen this character before?
Hollywood is known for its genre actors, and “Black Mass” certainly features a few among its stellar cast. This title marks the fourth time Kevin Bacon has played a law enforcement officer in a Boston-based movie, following his roles in “Mystic River,” “R.I.P.D.,” and “Patriots Day.” Similarly, the picture is Johnny Depp’s fourth portrayal of a real-life gangster, having previously played Joseph D. Pistone in “Donnie Brasco,” George Jung in “Blow,” and John Dillinger in “Public Enemies”.
8) ‘Sherlock’ reference!
In a scene, Benedict Cumberbatch references an incident that occurs on Baker Street. While it’s not confirmed whether this was a direct nod to his iconic role in the “Sherlock” series, it’s hard to believe that the actor didn’t notice the coincidence when delivering those lines.
9) Not everyone is eager to meet their off-screen characters
Joel Edgerton decided not to meet John Connolly, recognizing that his account of events significantly differed from the film’s portrayal. He noted, “I felt like even if there was a possibility of me going to see John, something would have felt slightly unfair – the idea of me strutting into prison to learn from John, knowing that he has one version of events and the film has a different version.”
10) Some interesting numbers
According to IMDb, “Black Mass” has a body count of eleven and features the word “f*ck” a total of 254 times. The film earned $22,769,179 during its opening weekend, with ten percent of the revenue coming from the Boston area.
