The Bulletin: Depp's 'Rum Diary'

Warner Independent Pictures will schedule "The Rum Diary," an adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's autobiographical novel with Johnny Depp, for production next year, reports Variety. Depp will star as Paul Kemp, a freelance journalist at the disposal of a sketchy Puerto Rican newspaper in the 1950s. Depp will produce with Graham King. Bruce Robinson will write and direct.

Gibson, Allen to Star in 'Death Race'
Tyrese Gibson ("Transformers") and Joan Allen ("The Bourne UItimatum") will star with Jason Statham in "Death Race" (Sept. 26, 2008), Paul W.S. Anderson's update of Roger Corman's 1975 cult classic about an ultraviolent expressway marathon from New York to Los Angeles, reports MTV.

Sarandon in 'The Lovely Bones'
Susan Sarandon will star in Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones," an adaptation of Alice Sebold's novel in which a slain girl, Susie Salmon, observes her own family's grief — and her killer's deeds — on Earth in the afterlife, reports Variety. Sarandon will join Stanley Tucci, as Susie's murderer, George Harvey; Saoirse Ronan, as the slain daughter; and Rachel Weisz and Ryan Gosling, as Susie's parents. Jackson wrote the script with Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh ("The Lord of the Rings"). Carolynne Cunningham, Jackson, Walsh and Aimee Peyronnet will produce, and Tessa Ross will executive produce with Ken Kamins and Jim Wilson. Production begins in October in Pennsylvania and New Zealand.

Mark Your Calendar
Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's exploitation anthology "Grindhouse" (B+) will be available for rental and purchase Oct. 16. The format remains uncertain, a source of anxiety for enthusiasts of the grand design of the theatrical version (i.e., myself and Mr. Movie Donut); Meanwhile, John Dahl's "You Kill Me," with Ben Kingsley and Tea Leoni, will be available Oct. 9; David Goyer's "The Invisible," Oct. 16; "Surf's Up," Oct. 9; "DOA: Dead or Alive," Sept. 11; Eli Roth's "Hostel: Part II," Oct. 23; "Captivity," Oct. 30; Mike Bender's "Reign Over Me," with Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle, Oct. 9; and "No End in Sight," Oct. 30.