(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Johnny Depp's newest film is a "love letter" to author Hunter S. Thompson.

The 48-year-old actor stars in the adaptation of the deceased writer's book The Rum Diary.

Johnny views the entire production as a dedication to Hunter's legacy.

"The whole thing is really a love letter to Hunter," Johnny told MTV News.

Johnny and Hunter were good friends before the novelist passed away in 2005. Johnny discovered the unpublished manuscript of The Rum Diary and urged Hunter to get it in print. The tome was published in 1998.

This particular film effort is very personal to Johnny. Memories of Hunter were all pervasive throughout.

"The film from the very inception, opening that cardboard box and finding the manuscript to The Rum Diary and saying to Hunter, 'What's wrong with you? Why don't you publish this?' and him saying, 'Well we should produce this,' the chain of events that happened over the years and then us trying ignorantly to drum up the money was just a very funny experience," Johnny recalled.

Johnny decided to move forward with the production on his own after Hunter's death. Although Hunter was no longer on the physical plane, Johnny felt his spirit strongly while working on the movie.

"Even though my partner is not right next to me, we're going to still produce this film together, and ultimately we did. Even if his presence, if he wasn't visible, we still produced the film together," he said.

The Rum Diary is in US theatres now. (C) Cover Media