Depp Channels Friend Thompson Again for 'Rum Diary'

La (AP) The Actor-brad Pitt strongly recalls the very first time he met Hunter S. Thompson, sparks flying because the author separated a bar crowd having a cattle push along with a Taser.17 years later, Depp is making good on a single of his close friend's last wishes, creating and starring inside a film adaptation of Thompson's "The Rum Diary," written in early sixties although not released until Depp happened around the manuscript one fourth-century after.Depp and Thompson, who died of the self-caused gunshot wound in 2005, glued instantly at this first meeting in 1994, once the actor was investing Christmas in Aspen, Colo., close to the author's home. Keen on Thompson's since reading through the gonzo journalist's "Fear and Loathing in Vegas" in the late teens, Depp leaped in the chance whenever a mutual friend requested if he desired to meet him.Depp was told to show up in the tavern at night time. Right after, Thompson joined brandishing his cattle push and Taser."Everyone was hurling their physiques, jumping taken care of to save themselves out of this maniac," Depp stated within an interview. "He then made his method to me. The sparks passed away lower, he just walked up to me and set his hands out and stated, 'How is the next step? I'm Hunter.'"Thompson and Depp rapidly discovered both of them were born in Kentucky and shared many literary heroes, included in this Ernest Hemingway and Nathaniel West. Around 2:30 that morning, these were at Thompson's house, where Depp respected a nickel-plated shotgun around the wall."'Would you love to fire it?'" Depp remembered Thompson saying. "I stated, 'Yeah. Great, guy.' He states, 'All right, great. We should build tanks.' Therefore we built tanks in the sink from gas tanks and nitroglycerin. Only then do we required them out back and that he stated, 'All right, you receive first crack.' And So I equalized that 12-gauge and that i blew up 80-feet fireball."I believe which was my type of coming of age with Hunter. I believe which was my test which i was OK."Depp continued to experience Thompson's alter ego within the 1998 movie adaptation of "Fear and Loathing." While planning for your role, Depp stayed within the basement of Thompson's home, sorting through boxes of "Fear and Loathing" items "cherry stems and cocktail serviettes and all sorts of these strange notations, photos of apes. Who understood that which was inside?Inch Depp remembered.He then opened up another box and located a manuscript entitled "The Rum Diary" in red-colored letters. He figured Thompson hadn't checked out it since writing it decades earlier, the storyline in line with the author's encounters like a youthful reporter in Puerto Rico.Sitting mix-legged on the ground, Depp and Thompson passed pages backwards and forwards. Within about 30 minutes, Depp had convinced Thompson to write the novel. In exchange, Thompson was adamant they ought to perform a film version.They developed the project together for a long time, and Depp grew to become much more devoted to getting the storyline towards the screen after Thompson wiped out themself among assorted maladies and decreasing health."There is nothing more wonderful rather than see an actress may play a role he puts everything into," stated Graham King, a producer on "The Rum Diary.""I am not to imply he does not put everything into every movie, but it was different. It was something which am near to his heart. It had not been a gig. It had not been employment for him.""Johnny is Hunter in lots of ways. Hunter set to make a move that nobody else tried before, and that i seem like Johnny does that in lots of things," stated co-star Amber Heard. "He's doing precisely what he really wants to do, and i believe it's wonderful and vital that you battle to make projects he feels have artistic integrity."A box-office risk at the start of his career for oddball films that rarely made money, Depp continues to be in a position to call their own shots within the years since he grew to become a Hollywood breadwinner with hits like the "Pirates from the Caribbean" movies and "Charlie and also the Chocolate Factory."Still, it had been challenging to locate backers for "The Rum Diary," which stars Depp as Paul Kemp, a Thompson alter ego in the childhood, coming in San Juan being an aimless tenderfoot who encounters corrupt designers despoiling a tropical paradise and finds out his purpose to defend myself against "the bastards" wherever he finds them.Aaron Eckhart co-stars like a slimy pr guy whose girlfriend (Heard) becomes Kemp's object of lust. The cast includes Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Jenkins and Michael Rispoli.To create the script and direct, Depp and Thompson enlisted Bruce Robinson ("Withnail & I"), a filmmaker who recognized themself and Thompson as kindred spirits."I was writing within the same vernacular, a voice of comedy rage," Robinson stated. "What will you have, a hands grenade or perhaps a word? Hunter find the word."Though Thompson vanished, Depp made him a spectral producer from beyond, insisting there be considered a chair with Thompson's title around the set, beside it an ashtray, a packet of Dunhill cigarettes, a bottle of Chivas Regal along with a highball glass.Every morning, Depp and Robinson would pour a glass or two for Thompson."Everyone was there for Johnny, and Johnny was there for that passion for the guy," Eckhart stated. "Which was palpable around the set, between Hunter's chair as well as their sacrament to him every day.InchIf Thompson were around to examine his performance, Depp figures he'd "develop some unbelievably witty, clever remark that will just kind of chop me off in the ankles. ... After which seconds later, he'd have recognized it, In my opinion.InchAfter I known as him for 'Fear and Loathing,' I had been scared which was the finish in our friendship, because I'd performed him, I believe, pretty near to the bone," Depp stated. "I told him in early stages, 'If I actually do this right, you may hate me forever.' He stated, 'Well it is a chance you need to take, is not it?' And So I made it happen, but after 'Fear and Loathing,' I known as him and that i stated, 'All right, you first viewed it? Would you hate me?'"And i believe by me saying, 'Do you hate me?' he understood I had been in discomfort. He could not stand the thought of (playing) beside me, and that he stated, 'No, no, guy. It had been as an eerie trumpet call on the lost battleground.' I am talking about, that simply arrived on the scene of his mouth around the telephone. ... It does not improve.InchCopyright laws 2011 Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.