Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Drugs

Hunter S. Thompson Biographical TV Series In The Works At MGM

Fear & Loathing in…television?

Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Steve Anderson

From his many drug-fueled adventures to his rants against Richard Nixon, writer Hunter S. Thompson was nothing short of exciting.

While you can read about his exploits straight from the author himself, you’ll soon be able to explore his life and work in an entirely new medium: television. According to The Hollywood Reporter, MGM Television has started development on an authorized biographical series that will chronicle the writer’s life, though the exact style and scope are still unknown.

The show, titled Fear and Loathing after Thompson’s 1972 classic Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, will be written by veteran screenwriter Davey Holmes, who has worked on Pushing Daisies, Shameless, and most recently, Epix’s adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel Get Shorty.

Although details are sparse at this point, Thompson’s life won’t, I imagine, be difficult to bring to the small screen: the author’s sixty-seven year life was packed with emotion and intrigue. After a troubled childhood, Thompson went on to write on a variety of topics, from the Hell’s Angels motorcycle club and the Kentucky Derby to his scorching treatises against then-nominee Richard Nixon. Those articles were later collected and published under the title Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail ’72.

Thompson, in fact, is credited with developing the “Gonzo” school of New Journalism, which stresses lively first-person narration and emotion over objective, factual reporting. His work inspired the Counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s. After struggling with health issues, Thompson committed suicide on February 20th, 2005.

And, of course, there is Thompson’s incredible drug use: the author took and wrote about a myriad of drugs, including cannabis, cocaine, LSD, rum, mescaline, and many more.

Here’s a short clip that goes over one day of his drug use:

This television series will not, however, be the first time Thompson’s work is brought to life. Bill Murray played the troubled author in the 1980 film Where the Buffalo Roam. Most notably, Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro starred in Terry Gilliam’s 1998 adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

For more on Hunter S. Thompson, take a look at his Top Ten ’60s Albums.

Written By

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement

You May Also Like

Summer cocktails drinks set. Assortment of multicolored strong and low alcoholic beverages for cocktail party. White background, hard light, shadows pattern, top viewSummer cocktails drinks set. Assortment of multicolored strong and low alcoholic beverages for cocktail party. White background, hard light, shadows pattern, top view

Food & Drink

There's more of a debate around non-alcoholic beverages than you might think.

the perils of drinking caffeinethe perils of drinking caffeine

Food & Drink

Everyone enjoys a fresh cup of coffee, but it may be doing more harm than good.

Kim Dickens & Alycia Debnam Carey in 'Fear The Walking Dead'. Credit: AMC StudiosKim Dickens & Alycia Debnam Carey in 'Fear The Walking Dead'. Credit: AMC Studios

TV & Film

Fans aren’t the only ones mixed on the ending; critics joined the horde too.

News

Police discovered a psychedelic mushroom growing scheme, worth about $8.5 million 🍄