Johnny Depp for 'Rum Role'

Johnny Depp is to uniquely reprise his role as late, eccentric journalist Hunter S Thompson in a brand new movie. In his first novel, 'Fear and Loathing of Las Vegas', he starred as a close friend of Thompson's. The movie successfully launched in 1998.

It has been revealed that Graham King, the Oscar Winning Producer of 'The Departed', has acquired rights to another novel, 'The Rum Diaries', starring Depp, with Warner Independent Pictures.

However, Depp is yet to complete his latest movie, 'Shantaram', Mira Nair's crime drama. 'Fear and Loathing...' star Benicio Del Toro was reportedly asked to make his directorial debut with 'The Rum Diary', while Josh Hartnett was also linked to the project.

But according to their representatives Del Toro, Nolte and Hartnett are no longer involved with the film.