The trades are reporting that Aaron Eckhart is in negotiations to join Johnny Depp in the forthcoming drama Rum Diary; Richard Jenkins has already signed on to the cast.

Being adapted from Hunter S. Thompson’s novel, the story follows a washed-up journalist named Paul Kemp in 1950s Puerto Rico.

Eckhart is set to play Sanderson, a wealthy landowner who believes everything has a price. He introduces Kemp to a different standard of living, but the pair are soon caught up in a love triangle with a beautiful young woman played by Amber Heard.

It has been adapted by Bruce Robinson, who is also directing. Filming begins next month on location in Puerto Rico.