The Venice Film Festival on Friday announced the out-of-competition world premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ drama Black Mass, starring Johnny Depp, at the 72nd edition of the big film event in September.

Directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Out of the Furnace), the film sees Depp play notorious gangster James “Whitey” Bulger. The ensemble cast also includes Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rory Cochrane, Jesse Plemons, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard and Kevin Bacon.

Black Mass will be screened on Sept. 4 in the Sala Grande at the Palazzo del Cinema at Venice Lido.

The film is about an FBI agent, played by Edgerton, who in 1970s Boston persuades Irish mobster Bulger (Depp) to collaborate with the FBI to eliminate their common enemy, the Italian mob. "The drama tells the story of this unholy alliance, which spiraled out of control, allowing Whitey to evade law enforcement while consolidating his power and becoming one of the most ruthless and dangerous gangsters in Boston history," according to a film description.

Warner will distribute Black Mass worldwide beginning Sept. 18. Its Italian release is scheduled for Oct. 1.

The 72nd Venice International Film Festival will take place Sept. 2-Sept. 12.

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