The Rum Diary Starring Johnny Depp, Written and Directed by Bruce Robinson, Begins Principal Photography in Puerto Rico

The Rum Diary Starring Johnny Depp, Written and Directed by Bruce Robinson, Begins Principal Photography in Puerto Rico

Aaron Eckhart, Amber Heard, Michael Rispoli, Richard Jenkins And Giovanni Ribisi Join Depp In The Screen Version Of The First Novel By Hunter S. Thompson

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Principal photography began on "The Rum Diary" on March 25th, 2009 in Puerto Rico. Based on the first novel by Hunter S. Thompson, the film stars Johnny Depp, who is joined by Aaron Eckhart, Amber Heard, Michael Rispoli, Richard Jenkins and Giovanni Ribisi. Bruce Robinson, who also wrote the screenplay, is directing. "The Rum Diary" represents the debut film of Infinitum Nihil, the production company headed by Johnny Depp and Christi Dembrowski. The film is also produced and fully financed by Graham King and his production company GK Films. Anthony Rhulen and Robert Kravis are also attached to produce. The movie will be shot entirely in Puerto Rico.

Based on the debut novel by Thompson which initiated his long, distinguished and brilliantly unpredictable career, "The Rum Diary" tells the increasingly unhinged story of itinerant journalist Paul Kemp (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 San Juan newspaper, the San Juan Star, run by downtrodden editor Lotterman (Jenkins). Adopting the rum-soaked life of the late '50s version of Hemingway's "The Lost Generation," Paul soon becomes increasingly obsessed with Chenault (Heard), the wildly attractive Connecticut-born fiancee of Sanderson (Eckhart), a businessman involved in shady property development deals.

Writer/director Bruce Robinson was nominated for an Academy Award(R) as well as a Golden Globe for his screenplay "The Killing Fields". He won the WGA Award and BAFTA Award for that script, but cult success was to come a couple of years later when he wrote and directed "Withnail and I," the brilliant comedy of bad manners in late 1960s London which is now considered the gold standard of its genre. Robinson also directed and wrote the subversive satire "How to Get Ahead in Advertising."

Since beginning his acting career in 1984, Johnny Depp has carved a very special niche for himself as an actor of surprising versatility and uncompromising artistry, creating an extraordinary gallery of performances in films. "The Rum Diary" marks the second film in which Depp has starred based on a work by Hunter S. Thompson, having starred in Terry Gilliam's screen version of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". Depp has garnered numerous awards and many nominations; most notably three Academy Award(R) nominations for Best Actor in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" (2004), "Finding Neverland" (2005) and "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (2008). Depp won a Screen Actors Guild Award for his creation of Captain Jack Sparrow, now one of film history's most popular screen characters. Depp's other credits include "Edward Scissorhands," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "Don Juan DeMarco," "Donnie Brascoe," "Sleepy Hollow," "Chocolat," "Blow," "Once Upon a Time in Mexico," "The Libertine," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," as well as the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy. Forthcoming films starring Depp are Michael Mann's "Public Enemies" and Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland."

Depp is joined by such fine, contemporary performers as Aaron Eckhart ("The Dark Knight," "Thank You For Not Smoking") as Sanderson, Amber Heard ("Pineapple Express," "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane") as Sanderson's sultry, temptress girlfriend Chenault, Michael Rispoli as Sala ("Rounders," "Summer of Sam"), Richard Jenkins, (Academy Award(R) nominee as Best Actor for "The Visitor") as Kemp's downtrodden editor Lotterman, and Giovanni Ribisi as Moburg ("Saving Private Ryan"). The supporting cast includes Bill Smitrovich as Zimburger ("Ironman"), Amaury Nolasco as Segurra ("Transformers") and Marshall Bell as Donovan ("Capote").

Infinitum Nihil, which was formed in 2004, has a busy slate of projects in development including "Dark Shadows," written by Tim Burton and produced with Graham King's GK Films for Warner Bros. Pictures, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," to be directed by Chris Wedge and also produced with GK Films for Warner Bros. Pictures and "Attica," adapted by Linda Woolverton and to be directed by Sam Fell. The Company also has several books it is developing and producing along with GK Films, for Warner Bros. Pictures including Gregory Roberts' "Shantaram," Gordon Dahlquist's "The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters" and Tom Robbins' book, "Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates". Other projects in development include Nick Tosches' book "In The Hand of Dante;" "Lord Whimsy's Affected Provincial's Companion;" Joseph Gangemi's "Inamorata" adapted by the author; and journalist-author James Meek's "The People's Act of Love".

Graham King won a Best Picture Academy Award for the ensemble crime thriller "The Departed," which marked King's third collaboration with director Martin Scorsese. He also produced the widely praised Howard Hughes biopic, "The Aviator" and had earlier been an executive producer on the epic drama "Gangs of New York." Under King's independent production company GK Films, King recently produced the thriller "Edge of Darkness," starring Mel Gibson. Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute the film domestically. In June 2009, King will begin production on William Monahan's directorial debut, "London Boulevard," starring Keira Knightley and Colin Farrell.

Bruce Robinson has assembled a stellar behind-the-scenes creative team for "The Rum Diary," including director of photography Dariusz Wolski (the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy, "Alice in Wonderland), production designer Chris Seagers ("The Taking of Pelham 123," "Deja Vu"), nine time Academy Award(R) Nominee and two time Academy Award(R) winner costume designer Colleen Atwood ("Chicago," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Public Enemies," "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," "Sleepy Hollow"), editor Matt Chesse ("Quantum of Solace," "Finding Neverland"), and casting director Denise Chamian (the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy). Robinson reunites with his old friend Peter Kohn (the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy, "Body of Lies"). Kohn was his first assistant director on "Withnail and I" and now serves as both first assistant director and co-producer.

"The Rum Diary" is a GK Films and Infinitum Nihil production starring Johnny Depp, who will be joined by Aaron Eckhart, Amber Heard, Michael Rispoli, Richard Jenkins and Giovanni Ribisi. It will be directed by Bruce Robinson, who also wrote the screenplay. Johnny Depp, Christi Dembrowski, Anthony Rhulen, Robert Kravis and Graham King produce. Executive producers are Tim Headington, William Shively, AJ Dix, Greg Shapiro and Patrick McCormick. Peter Kohn acts as co-producer.

Source: GK Films

CONTACT: Amanda Brand, Unit Publicist, Abrand7777@aol.com, for GK Films;
or international press, Maxine Leonard of GK Films, +001 310 315 1722,
mleonard@gk-films.com; or domestic press, Joy Fehily, +001 310 841 0800,
joy@primeprinc.com, for GK Films

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