Here's an odd mix of projects that look to have cast pivotal female roles: Walt Disney Picture's Lone Ranger and Lionsgate's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D.
English actress Ruth Wilson is negotiating to portray Rebecca in the Lone Ranger movie, which will also feature Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, and possibly Tom Wilkinson as well. Meanwhile, Lost starlet Tania Raymonde has been cast as another potential Leatherface victim in the new Chainsaw Massacre flick.
Wilson has primarily worked in the television medium, starring in shows like Suburban Shootout and AMC's updated take on the classic cult series, The Prisoner. She also landed a Golden Globe nomination for her work on a 2006 Masterpiece Theater Jane Eyre mini-series, and recently appeared opposite Idris Elba in the BBC's Luther. Deadline says that Wilson beat out the likes of Abbie Cornish (Limitless, Sucker Punch) and Jessica Chastain (Tree of Life), who were also in contention to play Lone Ranger's leading lady.
Raymonde is likewise best-known for her work on television, being a veteran of series like Lost, Crash, Cold Case, Malcom in the Middle, and doing one-episode stints on crime procedurals like Bones or Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Deadline also says that she will star in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D as Nikki, a "small town girl with attitude" and friend to Heather (Alexandra Daddario), the film's protagonist.
Lone Ranger has already attracted more than its fair share of controversy amongst fans, due to director Gore Verbinski's plans to offer more of a whimsical and off-beat take on the titular cowboy's story. Not only will the film portray Tonto (Depp) as being the true hero and not just a sidekick, Verbinski has also indicated that he will approach the classic western adventure from more of a philosophical angle, rather than designing it as a traditional popcorn blockbuster. While he's done that (to a degree) before, in both his Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and especially in the animated western Rango, Verbinski has yet to really pull the act off well. He gets points for trying, though.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D, by comparison, will mix things up a bit by deviating from previous installments in the series (the 1974 original, its sequels, and the 2003 Platinum Dunes' remake), with respect to its basic narrative. Of course, the bulk of the picture will still undoubtedly revolve around Leatherface slaughtering beautiful young people, resulting in loads of bloody appendages and gore flying out at the camera - so don't expect this to be any sort of "revolutionary" 3D horror flick.
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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D will attack U.S. theaters on October 5th, 2012.
Lone Ranger will ride in theaters on December 21st, 2012.