Johnny Depp's Hunter S. Thompson Role Reprised in "The Rum Diary" and as a Lost Chameleon in "Rango"

Johnny Depp is reprising his role as Hunter S. Thompson in two upcoming movies; In "Rango" an animated feature as a chameleon with an identity crisis, and as the late eccentric journalist himself in "The Rum Diary".

Johnny perpetuates his 'Hunteresque' vibe, wild island shirt and all in the new animated film "Rango" , and revisits his rendition of his late good friend with gusto in the (not really) second part of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" titled "The Rum Diary" played out in the Caribbean and Puerto Rico.

"The Rum Diary" is not really a part two of "Fear and Loathing", but an entirely separate story about Hunter's journalistic adventures in a 1950's tumultuous tropics. The director of "The Rum Diary" Bruce Robinson, also director of Withnail & I (1987), was actually asked by Johnny Depp to write and direct "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". Mr. Robinson turned down the offer, saying he couldn't see "how you could get that one on the screen." Conversely, Robinson later accepted an offer to write and direct a screen adaptation of Thompson's novel "The Rum Diary" (2010).

Johnny Depp will be starring as Paul Kemp in "The Rum Diary" along side Giovanni Ribisi as Moburg and playing Chenault is Amber Heard (of "Pineapple Express"). Also thrown into the mix are Aaron Eckhart and Richard Jenkins as Sanderson and Lotterman. "The Rum Diary" will be released in September of this year (2010) in the UK and Russia. IMDB.com (Internet Movie Database) lists 2010 as release date in the USA, no other information is listed about it's release date, though if you are an IMDB Pro user, you may find more information.

Gore Verbinski (director of "Pirates of the Caribbean"), Mr. Midas-touch directs Johnny again in "Rango" which will be released in March of 2011. I can't wait for this one, looks like a winner!

Full official trailer for "Rango" ; Johnny Depp with his "Thompsonesque" version of a chameleon with an identity crisis. Laughter ensues.

On the "Rango" Official Site a fan found some insider sights to see:

Here's what I found:
* If you try playing the guitar right for some time an owl-like creature with a cowboy hat and an electric guitar will appear to play some notes.
* If you go right there's some sort of black insect. Click on the insect and it will go down a hole after which you will hear moaning. Do it three times in a row and two moles will appear bickering about 'taking a wrong turn somewhere'.
* Also, when the car is gone one of the telegraph posts tips on one side. Click on it and after that click on the other two as well. A strange creature, possibly a bird, runs towards the screen.

RESOURCES:
Official Rango Movie Site:
http://www.rangomovie.com/

"Rango" on IMDB.com
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1192628/

"The Rum Diary" on IMDB.com
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376136/

YouTube.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-48ujEK4mwY