Seven years after it had been announced that Johnny Depp was to play the main character in “The Rum Diary”, the actor is to finally bring the autobiographical novel to the big screen. Written by Hunter S. Thompson in 1959, the autobiographical “The Rum Diary” was not published till 1998; when he wrote the novel Hunter S. Thompson was only 22 years old.

Johnny Depp is to play the main character in the movie version of the novel. The character’s name will be Paul Kemp and he will represent Hunter S. Thompson during the 1950s period when he was a freelance journalist in Puerto Rico, writing for the San Juan newspaper. Johnny Depp was to star alongside another important Hollywood celebrity, actor Nick Nolte, while other actors such as Josh Harnett and Benicio Del Toro had been also appointed to star in the film since 2002. However, only Depp has finally remained involved in this film, as all the others have already dropped their promises.

“The Rum Diary” will not be the first time that Johnny Depp plays in a movie inspired by Hunter S. Thompson’s adventures. He has also starred in “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, which is another work of the author that was published in 1972.

“The Rum Diary” is to be produced for Warner Independent Pictures by Johnny Depp and Graham King, who had acquired all the rights for making this movie, which has been hoped to start filming in a short time period, but only after principal photography is completed on “Shantaram”, Johnny Depp’s next movie. However, no shooting dates have been yet set.

Bruce Robinson, who became famous for his 1987 comedy “Withnail & I”, will be the screenwriter and the director of the movie.