Seven years after the project was announced, Johnny Depp may soon begin production on Hunter S. Thompson's autobiographical novel The Rum Diary. Depp would resume his Fear and Loathing role in the flick, loosely based on gonzo author Thompson's experiences working as a freelance journalist in Puerto Rico in the late 1950s. The Oscar-winning producer of The Departed has acquired the rights to the film, and a rep for his production company said it was hoped production will begin shortly after principle photography is completed on Depp's next film, Shantaram.