Johnny Depp's “Rum Diary” Coming This Fall

We've been waiting a long time for this one.

Johnny Depp finished shooting "The Rum Diary," based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson, ages ago. On Oct. 28, the film will finally see the light of day.

The film centers on the story of Paul Kemp (Depp), an American journalist living in Puerto Rico who drinks like, well, Hunter S. Thompson, and falls for a beautiful woman engaged to a slimy real estate developer. The film also stars Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribisi and Richard Jenkins.

Here's the official synopsis from GK Films:

The increasingly unhinged story of itinerant journalist Paul Kemp. Tiring of the noise and madness of New York and the crushing conventions of late Eisenhower-era America, Kep travels to the pristine island of Puerto Rico to write for the local newspaper, the San Juan Star, run by downtrodden editor Lotteman (Jenkins).

Adopting the rum-soaked life of the late '50's version of Hemingway's "The Lost Generation," Paul soon becomes increasingly obsessed with Chenault, the wildly attractive Connecticut-born fiancee of Sanderson (Eckhart), a businessman involved in shady property development deals.

"Hunter S. Thompson became close with Johnny Depp during the filming of 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' and showed Depp the unpublished manuscript for 'The Rum Diary,' " said producer Graham King. "I am extremely proud to bring this novel to film and to honor Hunter's legacy."

Writer-director Bruce Robinson, best known for the cult classic "Withnail & I," was determined to bring this film to life that he threw away more than six years of sobriety to combat the writer's block that was plaguing him. It took him six months to finish the script, at which time he promptly quit drinking once again. Now that is dedication.

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