Johnny Depp Hires Homeless As Extras On New Film, `Transcendence’; Hats From The Homeless May Have Contributed To Breakup With Vanessa Paradis

Johnny Depp hired two homeless people to play roles as extras on his upcoming film “Transcendence.” The 49-year old star of “The Pirates of the Caribbean” and “The Ninth Gate” spotted them when he was out in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The actor, Johnny Depp, saw the screen-ready homeless people who were living on the street and convinced the casting director to put them to work on his upcoming science fiction thriller, “Transcendence,” which also stars Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy and Rebecca Hall.

A source told media outlets that, "Johnny always likes to help out the community when on location. While scouting out the area around Albuquerque, he came across these two characters. He was straight on the phone to the casting director."

This isn’t the first time that the actor who played Ed Wood has helped out people who were living on the street. In 2011, it was reported that he bought a hat from a homeless person to add to his growing collection of headwear. Vanessa Paradis, who was the actor and sometimes-guitarist’s partner at the time, was reported to be furious at Depp for buying so many hats. The couple split up last June after being together for 14 years.

A source told media outlets at the time that "Vanessa was livid and told him the hats had to go or she would trash them. But he's way too fond of them, so he'll move the bulk of the collection to one of their other homes."

In the upcoming film, “Transcendence,” Depp plays a scientist who is assassinated and then has his brain uploaded to a computer. The movie is set to be released on April 25, 2014.

Depp will next be seen as the Indian side-kick Tonto in “The Lone Ranger.” The masked one will be played by Armie Hammer. “The Lone Ranger” will open in the U.S. on July 3.