Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski and star Johnny Depp have announced they will re-team for a computer animated film for Paramount. Based on an original idea by Verbinski, Rango is scripted by John Logan (The Aviator). All we know so far about the plot is that Depp will play the “oddly charismatic” title character, “a household pet that goes on an adventure to discover its true self.” Notice how both the gender and species of Depp’s character are being concealed.

“We are creating something that will resonate with a broad audience and stick in the minds of kids all across the globe,” says Verbinski. “The characters and circumstances are feeling buoyant and rich in humor and attitude, yet with a surprising emotional depth.”

But the most interesting thing about this new project is that Industrial Light & Magic will be doing the animation using “cutting edge techniques” that Verbinski says, “will allow us to capture and translate every aspect of Johnny’s performance, using it to drive the computer-generated character in a way that has yet to be seen in an animated feature.” Basically it sounds like Verbinski is going the way of Robert Zemeckis.

Depp is set to begin work on the film in January. Verbinski will continue to develop the big screen adaptation of Bioshock. Rango will hit theaters in March 2011.