Quick Takes: Johnny Depp will mix it up

Johnny Depp will next be seen in Disney’s “The Lone Ranger” this summer, but after that it looks like he’s giving popcorn flicks a rest.

The actor, who became a giant movie star when he stole the show in 2003’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” announced this week that he’s committing to two movies that are decidedly different from his recent work. First is Oscar-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister’s directorial debut, “Transcendence,” a hush-hush project set to start production in April.

After that, Depp will turn his attention to playing Boston crime boss Whitey Bulger in the thriller “Black Mass,” to be directed by Barry Levinson. The film will be based on the book by Boston Globe reporters Dick Lehr and Gerald O’Neill. Cameras are scheduled to roll in early summer.

— Nicole Sperling

Anastacia cancels tour

Anastacia, an American pop star who made it big in Europe and Australia, has announced that she will be canceling her European tour because of a second breast cancer diagnosis.

The 44-year-old artist made her way to international fame with her 2000 dance track “I’m Outta Love” and successfully battled breast cancer in 2003.

Her It’s a Man’s World Tour was set to begin in London on April 6 but has been canceled until further notice.

“I feel so awful to be letting down all my amazing fans who were looking forward to It’s A Man’s World Tour. It just breaks my heart to disappoint them,” the singer said on her website.

Anastacia, whose full name is Anastacia Lyn Newkirk, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic intestinal illness, at age 13. She went on to become a dancer, appearing in a few Salt-N-Pepa music videos, according to her iTunes bio. She was discovered on MTV’s talent show “The Cut” and later, in 2002, went on to join Mary J. Blige, Cher, Shakira and others for VH1’s fifth “Divas Live” showcase.

—Nardine Saad

Will Ferrell, Comedic Genius

Will Ferrell may be lacking in Oscars, Emmys and Golden Globes, but he’s about to kick off a tradition on the upcoming MTV Movie Awards. The actor is getting the first Comedic Genius Award on the telecast April 14.

Is 45 too young to be given a lifetime achievement award? Maybe so, but MTV’s key demo is teenagers, so middle-age might as well be the end of life as far as they’re concerned.

In a statement, MTV President Stephen Friedman said, “Over the course of his extraordinary, 17-plus-year career, he has entertained audiences across the globe with an impressive array of laugh-out-loud performances on air, online and in films. Simply put, Will Ferrell is ‘kind of a big deal.’”

For those not in the know, Friedman worked in a reference to Ferrell’s comedy hit “Anchorman,” which came out in 2004. The long-awaited sequel, “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,” comes out this Christmas. Any bets that Ferrell will show up to accept the award in his Ron Burgundy suit?

—Patrick Kevin Day

CW’s ‘90210’ will end in May

Don’t say you didn’t see it coming: The CW announced it is pulling the plug on “90210” after five seasons.

The show, a reboot/sequel of Fox’s popular teen drama “Beverly Hills, 90210,” will sign off after its remaining seven episodes of this season air, with the finale coming on May 13.

“The CW has had five great seasons with America’s favorite ZIP code, 90210,” said Mark Pedowitz, the network’s president. “I’d like to thank the talented cast, producers, and crew for all their hard work and dedication to the series. We are very proud of the West Beverly High alumni.”

One can only hope the cast can later be featured in Old Navy commercials like their predecessors.

The series has seen its ratings drop significantly over its run. It opened in 2008 to 4.6 million viewers but now hovers around 500,000 — making it the very uncool kid when measured alongside the network’s eternally youthful vampires of “The Vampire Diaries” and the rocking abs of “Arrow.”

—Yvonne Villarreal