Eckhart, Jenkins & Heard join ‘Rum Diary’

Bruce Robinson has adapted Hunter S. Thompson’s novel for film and will be directing the adaptation, set to star Johnny Depp. Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) and Amber Heard (Pineapple Express) have signed on to join the cast and Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight) is in negotiations. Production is set to being on March 30 in Puerto Rico. I really interested in seeing this movie and what Robinson does with it. If you haven’t seen Robinson’s first two movies, Withnail & I and How to Get Ahead in Advertising, you’re missing out on these modern classics. They’re wicked and bizarre and both were released on DVD by Criterion. This will be Robinson’s first directorial effort since ‘Jennifer Eight’ (1992).

Eckhart is part of a love triangle that sees him vying with Depp for Heard’s affection. “Diary” is the tale of a washed-up, hard-drinking journalist named Paul Kemp (Depp) in 1950s Puerto Rico. Eckhart would play Sanderson, a wealthy landowner who believes everything has a price and introduces Kemp to a different standard of living. Jenkins is playing Lotterman, the man who oversees the rundown newspaper where Kemp works. — HR

[source: Hollywood Reporter]