Disney Bans Johnny Depp From Promoting Rum Diary On ABC

[The Straight Story]

Disney Bans Johnny Depp From Promoting Rum Diary On ABC

File this one under "Problems That Probably Didn't Really Need Solving in the First Place." Apparently Disney has banned Johnny Depp from speaking to ABC affiliates about his film, The Rum Diary, which comes out on October 28th. The reason? According to THR, it all comes down to a clause in Depp's Pirates of the Caribbean contract. Disney purportedly doesn't want The Rum Diary to "get more exposure" than the Pirates flicks. Clearly this is a valid concern. I mean, The Rum Diary is an R-rated booze cruise based on the works of Hunter S. Thompson, whereas the Pirates of the Caribbean films have only brought in a couple of billion dollars worldwide.

Word of the strange clause came out at the Austin Film Festival Friday, when reporters from Houston's KHOU were not allowed to interview Depp or even to film him, unlike the non-ABC affiliates on hand. Depp was in Austin to attend a screening of Rum Diary at the festival and to receive an award for his "Extraordinary Contribution to Film." I wonder if the ABC affiliates were allowed to film that...

All kidding aside, I'm a big Depp fan, and I would hate for any moviegoers to become confused or disoriented when it comes to telling the difference between The Rum Diary and Pirates of the Caribbean. I mean, they do both take place on islands and involve rum. Here's a handy questionnaire to help sort things out.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Disney-Bans-Johnny-Depp-From-Promoting-Rum-Diary-ABC-27485.html

[Hugabear]

1. Yes, because 'The Rum Diary' is a clear and present threat to the POTC franchise

Clearly I'm being sarcastic.

Disney could produce a movie titled "Pirates of the Caribbean: Give Us Your Cash" and it would be a box-office hit, smashing previous POTC records.

[dtexdem]

3. Well, it's understandable that Disney would think people would confuse:

'The Rum Diary' with their POTC franchise: The Rum Diarrhea. ;-)

[valerief]

2. Could mean some work for Johnny Depp impersonators. They could do the interviews for him. nt

[iris27]

4. Yeah, but try to find a Depp impersonator who doesn't already work for Disney themselves,

playing Jack Sparrow at the parks. :)