Caine: Depp will not appear in 'Batman' film

Johnny Depp will not appear in the next ‘Batman’ movie.

The actor has regularly been linked to the role of villain The Riddler in the ‘Dark Knight’ follow-up but Michael Caine – who plays butler Alfred Pennyworth in the franchise – insists the rumours are untrue.

He said: "Johnny Depp is great in anything, but there is no Johnny Depp in this ‘Batman’. They tell me in no uncertain terms.

"There is nobody, there's no script, there's nothing. It can't possibly be made before 2011 because Christopher Nolan’s next film, ‘Inception’ is such a big picture."

However, Michael insists producers don’t give him details about plots or casting because they don’t trust him not to spread the news.

He added to MTV Movies: “They won't tell me anything.”