Having played Hunter S. Thompson (as his pseudonym, Raoul Duke), in 1998's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, based on Thompson's 1972 book of the same name (originally published the year before in Rolling Stone), Johnny Depp will again honour his now-departed friend in the upcoming film adaptation of The Rum Diary.

 

Written in the sixties but not published until 1998, The Rum Diary follows journalist Paul Kemp, who moves to San Juan from New York to write for The Daily News, getting heavily into rum and acid as he goes. Thompson had at the time befriended writers at the San Juan Star, having failed himself to get work there, contextualising the twisted love story. In a nice detail that will delight fans, the fictional paper in the film, adapted and directed by Withnail and I writer and director Bruce Robinson, is actually called the San Juan Star.

 

The film also features Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight, Battle: Los Angeles) as shady, depraved businessman Sanderson, and Amber Heard (Pineapple Express) as Chenault, Sanderson's fiancee and Kemp's love interest.

 

 

Righteous. It is being released internationally on the October 28, 2011. Will keep you posted on on Vietnam release date, if there is one. Fingers crossed.