Casting on “The Rum Diary” Begins; Johnny Depp On Board, and Maybe Even ScarJo’s Boobs

This is all very exciting! Rumor has it (yet again) that Johnny Depp will be bringing Hunter S. Thompon’s novel “The Rum Diary” to the big screen after all.

The book was written in the 1960s when Hunter S. Thompson was 22 and living in San Juan, Puerto Rico, working as a journalist. The book was not published until 1998.

A casting announcement for the film was recently leaked out, and rumor has the casting director is looking into Scarlett Johansson and Keira Knightly as the role of Chenault, the “beautiful, 25 year old, translucent vision from Connecticut, with a killer smile and a wry, enigmatic personality, she wears barely-there sarongs, sunbathes nude, and oozes sexuality in everything she does.”

Who would you like to see cast as the sexy, free-spirit, nude Chenault?

I read this book some years back and have been anxiously awaiting it’s big-screen debut. Personally, I don’t think either Scarlett of Keira should be cast as Chenault. I remember visualizing Chenault as this All-American busty woman of French or Eastern-European descent, who was super happy and free-spirited.

ScarJo and Keira are too sour for such a character. Maybe four years ago, but now it’s too late. A new, fresh face would suit the character better, and bring some more excitement to the final project. Benicio del Toro and Josh Hartnett are also rumored to be cast. (Josh Hartnett…. Wha’?)

Check out the casting announcement below for the full feel of the movie. It sounds very sexy. Me likey.

THE RUM DIARY (One Role) Feature Film
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: GK FILMS & INFINITUM NIHIL
UNION: SAG
Writer/Director: Bruce Robinson Based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson
Casting Director: Denise Chamian
Casting Associate: Angela Demo
NY Casting Associate: Julie Schubert
Sounds steamy….

Casting Assistant: Krysti Charron

Start Date: March 2009

SUBMIT JULIE SCHUBERT TEL: XXX-XXX-XXXX

[PAUL KEMP] -Johnny Depp

SEEKING: [CHENAULT] A beautiful, 25 year old, translucent vision from Connecticut, with a killer smile and a wry, enigmatic personality, she wears barely-there sarongs, sunbathes nude, and oozes sexuality in everything she does. She enchants and mesmerizes Kemp from the moment they meet: while both escaping a tedious, high-end party. Chenault is dating and possibly engaged to Sanderson, but clearly feels an attraction to Kemp. She’s a daredevil who loves to dance and drive fast. She gets into big trouble with a lust-crazed, violent crowd during Carnival in St. Thomas. .. LEAD. This role contains nudity.

STORY LINE: 1960: Divorced alcoholic and struggling novelist PAUL KEMP decides to kick around San Juan until his ship comes in, working as a journalist for a daily newspaper that’s on its last legs, drinking gallons of rum and experimenting with LSD. With his new friend BOB SALA by his side, he becomes entangled in a corrupt hotel development scheme with a slick PR consultant named SANDERSON, and falls in love with Sanderson’s unattainable girlfriend, CHENAULT. . .

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