Johnny Depp, whose cinematic roles have often been based on literary characters, has just written a new chapter in his career, signing a deal with Harper Collins to launch an imprint named Infinitum Nihil. His first release will be a Bob Dylan biography written by historian Douglas Brinkley and scheduled for arrival in 2015. The tentatively titled “The Unraveled Tales of Bob Dylan” will be partially based on interviews with the singer. [via the L.A. Times]

Canadian comics master Todd McFarlane -- of Marvel comics’ The Amazing Spider-Man and independently published Spawn fame -- has finally drawn his own story: Productions and Image Comics will release his visual autobiography on November 21. Spanning his three-decade-long career, the 400-page “The Art of Todd McFarlane: The Devil’s in the Details,” will detail McFarlane’s rise from young imitator of his drawing heroes to comics-defining superstar. [via Comicbook.com]

Two days before Thanksgiving, you’ll finally be able to pick up the hefty life story of everyone’s favorite creative director, Vogue magazine’s Grace Coddington. The 416-page “Grace Coddington: A Memoir” follows her 1960s arrival in Paris from her native Wales up through her quietly legendary shaping of the world of fashion -- in her inimitable voice that’s consistently as wide-eyed as it is fierce and sophisticated. Plus it’s packed with her pen-and-ink drawings. [via the Huffington Post]

After two years of sitting in the wings, a  biopic based on Queen frontman Freddie Mercury may soon see the light of day. Sacha Baron Cohen has confirmed he will play the joyfully operatic rocker -- with a flair well matched to Mercury’s booming theatrical presence, we predict. Not yet confirmed is High Fidelity director Stephen Frears, who still has time to sign on for this film’s hoped-for 2014 release. [via the L.A. Times]

Not wanting to leave anything to chance, the king of auteur directors Alfred Hitchcock staged the famous attack moment in his 1963 film Birds as a real-life event, filling the room with birds and  shooting the scene repeatedly until he found it perfect, while actress Tippi Hedren did her best to fend off the onslaught of beaks and claws each time. The Girl, a new biographical film based on the making of Hitchcock’s classic, takes a direct and difficult look at Hitchcock’s artistic vision -- with Toby Jones and Sienna Miller fulfilling their roles with fitting intensity. [via the Vancouver Sun]