*Johnny Depp is rumored to be playing John McAfee in an upcoming biopic, but the Antivirus mogul believes Morgan Freeman would be better suited for the role.
Depp will reportedly play McAfee in “The King of The Jungle,” according to Deadline, portraying the cybersecurity pioneer during his controversial time in Belize.
McAfee confirmed with Newsweek that Depp will indeed play him in an upcoming flick, but he has yet to meet the actor.
“I have been frequently compared to Hunter S. Thompson and I have seen Depp’s magnificent portrayal of Thompson,” McAfee says.
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“I think Depp is as good as Javier Bardem, John Turturro, Mickey Rourke or Morgan Freeman [to play the part]. I am not joking about the latter. I pray for a time when the skin tone is not a factor in character choice. From what I know of Freeman, his character closest matches mine.”
McAfee, who founded the eponymous computer virus company in 1987, spent several years in Belize before fleeing the country in 2013. The film is based on a 2012 article written by Joshua Davis for Wired magazine, and will include his time in Central America when McAfee was wanted by police for questioning in connection with the murder of his neighbor.
Morgan’s latest film, “Going in Style,” opens Friday, and follows a trio of older friends who get cheated out of their pension plans. Desperate to pay bills and support family, they stage a heist on the very bank that stole their money. Freeman stars alongside Michael Caine and Alan Arkin, per LA Times.
“You don’t decide if you’re going to take some time off or rest,” said the 79-year-old Oscar winning actor. “But for those of us who are able to work, you’ve got to make hay while the sun is shining.”