Rum Diary & Restless find distributors for Fall release

Thanks to phantom for spotting the two important press releases out of CinemaCon:

It was announced today at CinemaCon, by Bob Berney, President, Theatrical Distribution that FilmDistrict will release “The Rum Diary,” based on the early Hunter S. Thompson novel that was ultimately published in 1998. It stars Johnny Depp and will be released on October 28, 2011. The film is directed by Bruce Robinson (“Withnail and I”) from his own screenplay and also stars Aaron Eckhart, Amber Heard, Michael Rispoli, Richard Jenkins and Giovanni Ribisi. “The Rum Diary” is produced by Infinitum Nihil, the production company headed by Depp and Christi Dembrowski, along with Graham King and Tim Headington. Anthony Rhulen and Robert Kravis also produce.

“The Rum Diary” tells the increasingly unhinged story of itinerant journalist Paul Kemp (Depp). Tired of the noise and madness of New York and the crushing conventions of late Eisenhower-era America, Kemp travels to the pristine island of Puerto Rico to write for a local San Juan newspaper run by the downtrodden editor Lotterman (Jenkins). Adopting the rum-soaked lifestyle of the late ‘50s version of Hemingway’s “The Lost Generation,” Paul soon becomes entangled with a very attractive American woman, Chenault (Heard) and her fiancée Sanderson (Eckhart), a businessman involved in shady property development deals. It is within this world that Kemp ultimately discovers his true voice as a writer and integrity as a man.

“Hunter S. Thompson became close with Johnny Depp during the filming of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and showed Depp the unpublished manuscript for The Rum Diary,” says producer and FilmDistrict co-founder Graham King. “I am extremely proud to bring this novel to film and to honor Hunter’s legacy.”

Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they will release Gus Van Sant’s new film, RESTLESS, in North America, with Sony Pictures Releasing International distributing the film in the rest of the world. Jason Lew penned the film’s script that stars Henry Hopper, Mia Wasikowska, Ryo Kase, Schuyler Fisk and Luisa Strus. RESTLESS is produced by Bryce Dallas Howard, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard under the Imagine Entertainment banner and Columbia Pictures. SPC expects a fall release.

Van Sant assembled a world class crew to work on RESTLESS, director of photographer Harris Savides (MILK, AMERICAN GANGSTER, ZODIAC), production designer Anne Ross (LOST IN TRANSLATION, SOMEWHERE, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE), editor Elliot Graham (X MEN, SUPERMAN RETURNS, MILK), costume designer Danny Glicker (UP IN THE AIR, MILK, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING) and music by Danny Elfman (ALICE IN WONDERLAND, MILK, SPIDERMAN).

RESTLESS is a powerful and emotional coming of age story that centers on the relationship of two outsiders brought together by unforeseen circumstances. The story of friendship becomes an engaging and provocative love story.

“Having known and admired Gus’ work for years, we are so pleased to be releasing his newest film, which to our mind, is one of his very best. We are also thrilled to be working with producer Bryce Howard and the impressive team at Imagine,” states Sony Pictures Classics.