Depp takes the (tiny) wheel in 'The Rum Diary'

Depp on the set of 'The Rum Diary'The Bad & Ugly has posted photos of Johnny Depp on-location in Puerto Rico for the "The Rum Diary," a film adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's early novel.

As you can see, Depp is looking pretty tough behind the wheel of that tiny Fiat 500. It's not as cool as either of the big ragtops he drove in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," but maybe we'll see Depp lay down some fancy heel-and-toe.

For those of you unfamiliar with the book, it's Thompson's semi-autobiographical tale of a reporter who moves to Puerto Rico in the late '50s to work for an Engligh-language daily paper. The pay is awful, the weather is great, and the rum is cheap and plentiful. The story includes a love triangle, a murder and Thompson's trademark shenanigans.

It is not at all the typical experience of a Leader staff writer. An Independent Review writer, maybe.

Filming on "The Rum Diary" began less than a month ago. The film is being co-produced by Warner Independent Pictures and is slated for a 2010 release.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)