By Kofi Outlaw

Christian Bale, star of this summer’s sure-fire blockbuster, BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT, is currently in talks to star as another celebrated lawman, FBI agent Melvin Purvis, who became an “American hero” in 1934 for cornering and capping legendary bank robber John Dillinger, as the criminal fled a movie theater.

Directed by Michael Mann (HEAT, MIAMI VICE), PUBLIC ENEMIES will follow Purvis’ relentless manhunt for criminals on the FBI’s most wanted list, culminating with Dillinger, who will be played by acting powerhouse Johnny Depp. Other famous gangsters, including Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson, are rumored to appear in the film, but have yet to be cast.

Depp, Bale and Mann doing a historical drama about cops and crooks? If AMERICAN GANSTER doesn’t make it into the Oscar race this year, then PUBLIC ENEMIES might have to fill that slot when it’s released in 2009. In the meantime, rant back and let us know if PUBLIC ENEMIES is the sort marriage-made-in-heaven flick you’d like to see.