Hunter S Thompson devotees will be glad to hear that the long awaited adaptation of ‘The Rum Diary’ will finally start filming in Puerto Rico this week.

Johnny Depp, a close friend of the late author, has been in talks since 2000 about getting the book, which was released 40 years after its writing, on to celluloid.

Depp will head the cast as rum swigin’ journo Paul Kemp, with a support cast that features Aaron Eckhart, Richard Jenkins, Amber Heard and Giovanni Ribisi. Directorial duties will be taken care of by ‘Withnail & I’ helmsman Bruce Robinson.

Robinson was Depp’s original choice to direct him in another HST adaptation ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’, but declined because he couldn’t see "how you could get that one on the screen." Terry Gilliam eventually stepped to the plate and knocked the ball out of the park.

Let’s hope Robinson has the minerals for this one. ‘The Rum Diary’ is scheduled for release in 2010.

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