JOHNNY DEPP TO REPRISE THOMPSON

Sexy Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp is to reprise his role as eccentric late journalist Hunter S. Thompson (left) in a new movie. Depp starred as close friend Thompson in the movie of his first novel 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' in 1998. In 2000, independent production company Shooting Gallery - which has since shut-down - and SPi Films bought the rights to his autobiographical novel 'The Rum Diary', and the same year announced plans to make the movie with Depp and Nick Nolte starring. It has now been revealed that Graham King, the Oscar-winning producer of 'The Departed', has acquired the rights and will produce the movie, starring Depp, with Warner Independent Pictures. Though no definite start date has been set, it is hoped filming will begin when Depp has completed his next movie, Mira Nair's crime drama 'Shantaram'. '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. Eccentric alcoholic Thompson created Gonzo journalism in the 1970s. The style of reporting involves the journalist becoming so involved in events they themselves become central figures in the story. He committed suicide in February 2005 aged 67. On August 20 that year Depp financed a private ceremony, according to Thompson's wishes, in which the writer's ashes were fired from a cannon in Aspen to the tune of Bob Dylan's 'Mr. Tambourine Man'. Thompson wrote 'The Rum Diary' in the early 60s when he was just 22, but it was not published until 1998, after the success of 'Fear and Loathing.'.