Johnny Depp believes that Hunter S. Thompson would’ve “praised” his performance in The Rum Diary.
The actor was good friends with Hunter before the writer committed suicide in 2005.
Johnny’s latest film The Rum Diary is based on a novel by Hunter, which follows journalist Paul Kemp living in Puerto Rico during the 50s.
Like many of his novels the lead character shares a few traits with Hunter himself. Johnny feels confident about his portrayal of Paul and believes Hunter would have enjoyed it.
"[He would probably] come up with some unbelievably witty, clever remark that would just sort of chop me off at the ankles,” he told British newspaper The Telegraph. “And then seconds later, he would have praised it, I believe.”
The actor played another of Hunter’s alter-ego’s in the 1998 film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Johnny was terrified that his interpretation of the character would offend his friend.
"When I called him for Fear and Loathing, I was scared that was the end of our friendship, because I had played him, I think, pretty close to the bone," he admitted. “I called him and I said, 'All right, you saw it? Do you hate me?' And I think by me saying, 'Do you hate me?' he knew I was in pain. He couldn't stand the idea of (messing) with me, and he said, 'No, no, man. It was like an eerie trumpet call over a lost battlefield.' I mean, that just came out of his mouth on the telephone. ... It doesn't get better."
Johnny has also been displaying his other talents.
While he was in Texas to premiere The Rum Diary at the Austin Film Festival Johnny played an impromptu gig. The Hollywood actor teamed up with ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and old bandmate Bill Carter at the Continental Club and played a 90-minute jam session. The venue was reportedly packed out and the crowd enjoyed listening to Johnny’s tunes.
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