The best project to have actually been born out of the WGA strike at the last minute is Michael Mann’s PUBLIC ENEMIES, a movie that will see Christian Bale as an F.B.I agent tracking down such notorious gangsters as Pretty Boy Floyd, John “Red” Hamilton and of course the infamous John Dillinger, to be played by Johnny Depp.

These men were collectively known as the PUBLIC ENEMIES, and the eventual taking down of these criminals by then U.S. President J. Edgar Hoover in the 30’s by his federal agents, was seen as the true birth of the F.B.I. The Universal Pictures depression-era thriller will begin shooting on March 10th, and Variety carry word of a whole host of names just added as the supporting cast.

First up, Oscar nominated last week for her role in LA VIE EN ROSE was Marion Cotillard, who has been cast as Billie Frechette, the lover of Dillinger. 32 year old Cotillard an unknown actress just 18 months ago was controversially cast as 40’s French icon Edith Piaf but as her Academy Award nom shows she put in a fantastic performance and from the still from that movie above… if she were to use that make-up again she would be a spitting image of Dillinger’s girlfriend.

Channing Tatum who will be fitting this part in before G.I. JOE shoots, will play Pretty Boy Floyd, a notorious bank robber who would slip through the FBI’s grasp for years.

Probably the most famous character actor of his generation Giovanni Ribisi will play Alvin Karpis, a robber nicknamed “Creepy” because of his sinister smile, and he certainly does look a lot like Ribisi who can probably play this kind of character in his sleep by now, he’s done it so many times in the past.

Stephen Dorff is Homer Van Meter, another robber who was close to Dillinger. Never been the biggest fan of Dorff, but we shall see what he can do with Mann’s material.

John “Red” Hamilton, the Canadian bank robber of the group will be played by Aussie t.v. actor (Brotherhood, Stingers) Jason Clarke. Again, looks wise he’s perfect.

Presumably they are still looking for the roles of Baby Face Nelson and Fred Baker, the two other members of Dillinger’s gang. They are pictured below and boy isn’t it a shame that Joe Pesci is too old now to play Barker (the second one below), he is spot on perfect!

The next DEPARTED? The next AMERICAN GANGSTER? I would argue that the men and the story behind this film is more interesting than either of those two movies and with Depp and Bale going head-to-head… two physical and methodical actors who can put in the most of intense performances, to see them challenge each other on screen should be pretty fascinating.

So we’ve seen what Marty can do with a period gangster movie. We’ve seen Ridley Scott find his awesomeness again with his. What can Mann do, with his best cast since HEAT?