Lionsgate has announced that principal photography has begun on Mortdecai.  David Koepp's action comedy stars Johnny Depp as the roguish Charlie Mortdecai, an art dealer who finds himself in a race to recover a stole painting rumored to contain the code to a lost bank account filled with Nazi gold.  The official plot synopsis adds some fun details like "angry Russians", "Mi5", "international terrorist," and an "impossibly leggy wife".  It sounds a bit madcap and it could be a pretty fun flick.

Hit the jump for the press release.  The film also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Paul Bettany, and Olivia Munn.  Mortdecai will likely open some time next year.

Here's the press release.  I've put the official synopsis in bold:

PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY BEGINS ON

LIONSGATE AND ODDLOT ENTERTAINMENT’S ACTION COMEDY

MORTDECAI STARRING JOHNNY DEPP

SANTA MONICA and CULVER CITY, CA  October 21, 2013 – Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) and OddLot Entertainment announced today that principal photography has begun in London on the action comedy MORTDECAI. Based on the popular three-novel anthology by Kyril Bonfiglioli, which has amassed a significant cult following, the film features an all-star cast including Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Paul Bettany and Olivia Munn. Guy Burnet, Michael Byrne, Michael Culkin, Jonny Pasvolsky, Ulrich Thomsen, and Paul Whitehouse have also joined the cast of the film which David Koepp is directing from a script written by Eric Aronson.  Andrew Lazar, Johnny Depp, Christi Dembrowski and OddLot’s Gigi Pritzker are producing the project.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger said, “Kyril created a rich, immersive world with fresh characters, and we are thrilled to bring his beloved story to life with our friends and partners at OddLot. With David Koepp at the helm and a brilliant all-star cast, MORTDECAI will captivate audiences and keep them on the edge of their seats.”

OddLot’s Gigi Pritzker added, “The teams at OddLot and Lionsgate have been eager to start production of MORTDECAI. The cast of this film is phenomenal and the storyline is hilarious. It will be incredible to see it all captured over the coming weeks and we look forward to sharing it with fans of Kyril’s novels worldwide.”

Juggling some angry Russians, the British Mi5, his impossibly leggy wife and an international terrorist, debonair art dealer and part time rogue Charlie Mortdecai (Depp) must traverse the globe armed only with his good looks and special charm in a race to recover a stolen painting rumored to contain the code to a lost bank account filled with Nazi gold.

MORTDECAI marks the first project under Lionsgate and OddLot’s multiyear, multipicture co-financing and distribution deal which the companies announced last month.