Johnny Depp fans, as well as those of the late gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, have been waiting a long time for the cinematic release of The Rum Diary, the adaptation of Thompson's debut novel of the same name. Even though production wrapped a couple of years ago, the film has been languishing in the can ever since.
Following the earlier announcement that the film will finally be released on October 28th of this year, is the first trailer that debuted on Entertainment Tonight. You can check it out below.
Speculation had it that the release of the film, which was completed in 2009, was delayed due to Depp's unavailability to promote it because of his involvement in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie he was filming at the time. Though the film will never attract a huge box office draw due to its niche-y subject [matter], the delays were strange given the film's built-in audience, Depp's passion with the author's work (he also starred in 1998's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), and the film's incredible cast which includes, in addition to Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Richard Jenkins, Giovanni Ribisi and Amber Heard. A smoking' Amber Heard, we might add.
Watch the trailer below:
The Rum Diary tells the increasingly unhinged story of itinerant journalist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp). Tiring of the noise and madness of New York and the crushing conventions of late Eisenhower-era America, Kemp travels to the pristine island of Puerto Rico to write for a local newspaper, The San Juan Star, run by downtrodden editor Lotterman (Richard Jenkins). Adopting the rum-soaked life of the island, Paul soon becomes obsessed with Chenault (Amber Heard), the wildly attractive Connecticut-born fiancée of Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart) who is a businessman involved in shady property development deals. When Kemp is recruited by Sanderson to write favorably about his latest unsavory scheme, the journalist is presented with a choice: to use his words for the corrupt businessmen's financial benefit, or use them to take the bastards down. It is directed by Bruce Robinson.
