MADISON, Wis. -- Gov. Jim Doyle's office confirmed Tuesday that Johnny Depp will be in the state to star in "Public Enemies."

The news that Depp was coming has been around for months as the filmmakers scouted locations, held casting calls for extras and sought vintage automobiles.

But official word of the film coming to Wisconsin had to wait until Universal Pictures reached an agreement with the state on tax credits it will get.

"This is really our effort to try to get a share of the movie business in Wisconsin and all of the economic development that comes with that," Doyle said. "So, to bring a Johnny Depp movie, a big budget movie like "Public Enemies," here with a good deal of the filming to take place in Wisconsin is a really, really good start for us, and we hope that this is really going to lead the way for more movies to be made here and create more jobs for people in Wisconsin."

The film will be the first major production to come to Wisconsin after new tax incentives for the film industry took effect on Jan. 1. By producing in Wisconsin, the company could earn approximately $3.9 million in tax credits. The company said it expects to spend nearly $20 million in the state by conducting a portion of the filming in Wisconsin. Individual community locations are still being determined, but Baraboo, Columbus and Richland Center have been scouted by filmmakers.

Depp will play gangster John Dillinger in the film, and Christian Bale will play an FBI special agent. The film will be directed and produced by University of Wisconsin-Madison alumnus Michael Mann.