Screen Rant » the lone ranger

Johnny Depp Talks Tonto in ‘Lone Ranger’; New Set Photos

Sandy Schaefer — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:27:07 +0000

One of the sources for the controversy surrounding Disney’s Lone Ranger reboot has been the decision to feature Johnny Depp as the titular hero’s American Indian sidekick, Tonto. Reactions have ranged from supportive – including leaders of the Navajo Nation – to skepticism about Depp’s asserted Cherokee/Creek heritage – and even outcries that Depp playing Tonto is tantamount to the actor going “Redface.”

The first image of Depp as Tonto didn’t help, especially given the surface similarities between Depp’s Lone Ranger getup and his well-known Jack Sparrow costume. However, it was quickly pointed out that Depp’s look was more than simply another example of the A-lister’s artistic eccentricities; instead, it’s seemingly inspired by ”I Am Crow”, an artistic representation of the Crow people from the American midwest, painted by Kirby Sattler.

Depp has confirmed that as being true to EW, elaborating on the logic behind his decision in the ...

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New ‘Lone Ranger’ Images: Tonto & Ranger Meets Navajo Leaders

Kofi Outlaw — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:44:07 +0000

It’s going to be interesting to see what Johnny Depp and Gore Verbinski have in store for Lone Ranger. From day one the director/star duo – who’ve worked together on the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and the animated film Rango - have stated their intention to offer audiences a twist on the classic tropes and stereotypes of old west films; and as stated, it’s going to be interesting to see just what that new vision is.

Depp (who plays the titular lawman’s iconic Native American sidekick, Tonto) has been particularly vocal about his desire to do something different with how Native Americans are portrayed onscreen, and the set of Lone Ranger photos you’ll see today feature Depp (as Tonto) meeting with prominent members of the Navajo Nation where filming is currently taking place.

Check out Depp as Tonto and actor Armie Hammer as the Lone Ranger, posing ...

Click to continue reading New ‘Lone Ranger’ Images: Tonto & Ranger Meets Navajo Leaders

First ‘Lone Ranger’ Image: Yet Another Weird Johnny Depp Costume

Sandy Schaefer — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:26:14 +0000

After what feels like a short eternity of production delays due to a budget which (at one point) had inflated to over $250 million, Gore Verbinski’s unorthodox Lone Ranger movie has at last begun principal photography. Verbinski is reuniting with his Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy star Johnny Depp on the flick, which features Armie Hammer (The Social Network, Mirror Mirror) as the titular gunslinger, and Depp as his more capable sidekick Tonto.

Lone Ranger producer Jerry Bruckheimer (also a Pirates franchise alum) has tweeted the first image of Hammer and Depp in costume. As you might imagine, Hammer as the masked John Reid looks conventional enough while Depp as Tonto looks like… well, a very “Depp-ish” take on the traditional American Indian character.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis, followed by the aforementioned image of ...

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‘Lone Ranger’ Lassoes William Fichtner as its Villain

Sandy Schaefer — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:37:26 +0000

While it’s nothing compared to the budget battle which Gore Verbinski’s Lone Ranger movie had to undertake after Disney decided that $250 million is too much to spend on a western (even one starring Johnny Depp), the latest bit of Ranger “drama” has been that actor/singer Dwight Yoakam recently backed out of the film due to scheduling issues – even though principal photography is on the verge of getting underway.

Yoakam was set to appear in Lone Ranger as Butch Cavendish, the no-good-varmint who leaves John Reid (Armie Hammer) for dead – only to pay for his mistake when an American Indian named Tonto (Depp) rescues Mr. Reid and helps him to become the masked avenger known as (what else?) The Lone Ranger.

Deadline says that William Fichtner has been “tapped” by Disney ...

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Gore Verbinski Adresses ‘Lone Ranger’ Werewolf Rumors & More

Sandy Schaefer — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:10:01 +0000

Gore Verbinski’s Lone Ranger almost fell completely out of the saddle after the classic western adaptation’s budget climbed to over $250 million, thanks to a screenplay which (at some point) is rumored to have included an animated sequence, a giant Wendigo, and werewolves – among other anomalies.

Considering that Verbinski’s last venture into the western genre, Rango – which is favored to win this year’s Best Animated Feature Oscar – boasts a Hunter S. Thompson-inspired protagonist and a spiritual entity in the form of Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name riding a golf cart (among other off-beat aspects), it’s less surprising that the filmmaker’s latest collaboration with Johnny Depp was originally shaping up to be equally surreal.

Principal photography on Lone Ranger is getting underway in New Mexico, with a shooting ...

Click to continue reading Gore Verbinski Adresses ‘Lone Ranger’ Werewolf Rumors & More

‘The Lone Ranger’ to Begin Shooting in New Mexico Next Month

Ben Moore — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:45:43 +0000

Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski’s The Lone Ranger has gone through all manner of rigmarole since its inception – not the least of which was the inclusion of mystical werewolves (or should we say “supernatural coyotes”?) and a radically ballooning budget as a result.

But those werewolves/coyotes – among other expensive items– have since been cut from the film in order for it to be greenlit, or so they say. Now, finally, Lone Ranger will begin shooting next month in New Mexico.

Check out a portion of the press release below from New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez and the New Mexico Film Office:

January 13, 2012 SANTA FE – Governor Susana Martinez and the New Mexico Film Office announced today that Walt Disney Pictures and ...

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‘Lone Ranger’ & ‘Oldboy’ Casting Updates

Sandy Schaefer — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:06:03 +0000

Director Gore Verbinski’s classic western adaptation, Lone Ranger, and filmmaker Spike Lee’s Americanized manga re-interpretation, Oldboy, are both vastly different, yet similarly-controversial projects. The former has irritated people because of its confusingly massive budget and deviations from traditional Ranger lore; the latter has managed to anger people by simply existing.

Both films are nonetheless well on their way to becoming realities, seeing how Lone Ranger has nearly completed casting, at this point – and Oldboy is expected to finish up pre-production soon, in order to start filming by Spring 2012.

Heat Vision has learned that James Frain has joined the Lone Ranger cast and will portray a tough foreman who works for the villainous railroad tycoon, Latham Cole (Tom Wilkinson). Frain’s resume includes a recurring stint as Paul Raines on ...

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‘Lone Ranger’ Casting Update; Tom Wilkinson Set as Villain

Sandy Schaefer — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:54:49 +0000

Disney’s much-ballyhooed Lone Ranger movie is gearing up to begin principal photography by February 2012. The film will feature Armie Hammer (The Social Network) as the famous masked renegade cowboy, Johnny Depp playing the American Indian Tonto, and a storyline that offers a (controversial) new spin on the traditional Ranger mythos.

Production on Lone Ranger has been held up long enough as to create some uncertainty about which formerly-rumored supporting cast members are still onboard for the film (or, conversely, have passed on the project). According to a new report, director Gore Verbinski is working hard to secure his originally-planned Lone Ranger cast.

Deadline is reporting that previously-rumored Lone Ranger stars like Helena Bonham Carter (Alice in Wonderland), Barry Pepper (True Grit), James Badge Dale (The Pacific), and actor/musician ...

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Jerry Bruckheimer Discusses ‘Lone Ranger’ Production Delay

Sandy Schaefer — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:25:24 +0000

Disney’s Lone Ranger adaptation has been fighting an uphill battle, ever since director Gore Verbinski announced his intentions to deliver a surprisingly unconventional version of the character. That was long before the film was (briefly) canceled by the Mouse House’s executives.

The Johnny Depp-starring western is now back on track and has a new scheduled theatrical release date to boot. Still, there’s good reason to wonder: besides the now-infamous “werewolves” aspect of the the film’s plot, what exactly caused Lone Ranger‘s estimated budget to balloon to upwards of $250-260 million… before it was reworked significantly and lowered to a “more reasonable” level of $215 million?

Lone Ranger producer Jerry Bruckheimer has a lot of experience when it comes to working on ultra-expensive projects – be it Michael Bay films like Armageddon ...

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‘Lone Ranger’ Arrives In Summer 2013; ‘Thor 2′ Bumped Back

Sandy Schaefer — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:14:13 +0000

Walt Disney Pictures has at last gotten its troubled Lone Ranger adaptation back on track and has now selected an official February 2012 start date for production on the Johnny Depp-starring western – along with a new theatrical release date.

The Mouse House has done some additional re-shuffling of its release docket – specifically, with respect to the comic book sequel, Thor 2. While that film was previously slated to arrive in late July 2013, it has now been pushed back to November of that year… though Marvel’s other big release of 2013, Iron Man 3, remains set for a summer launch.

Lone Ranger was originally supposed to have already begun principal photography at the time of writing this, in order to make a Winter 2012 release. Disney’s concerns over the film’s intimidating budget ...

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Disney’s ‘Lone Ranger’ Finally Ready To Move Forward Again [Updated]

Sandy Schaefer — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:46:59 +0000

Lone Ranger fans breathed a sigh of relief when director Gore Verbinski’s film adaptation – with Johnny Depp slated to star – collapsed this past summer. Those same people started scratching their heads when the reason for the cancellation was revealed: namely, because the western was budgeted at $250 million (or more) and was set to feature… werewolves.

Word got out a couple weeks back that the project is still alive and largely intact (shape-changing human/canines and all…). Today, we have further confirmation that Verbinski’s Lone Ranger is indeed moving forward again.

Deadline has been keeping tabs on Lone Ranger‘s status for months now and says that Verbinski, Depp, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer – a.k.a. the “brain trust” behind the first Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy – have ...

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‘The Lone Ranger’ With Werewolves Expected to Start Production Early 2012

Ben Moore — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 16:05:54 +0000

News that Disney’s The Lone Ranger was abruptly canceled last month came as a huge shock to film fans everywhere, but not as big a shock as the reason – the budget had ballooned to $250 million, partly due to the subject material involving werewolves.

Soon after, word on the street was that producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Gore Verbinski, and star Johnny Depp were hard at work cutting the budget because they really, really wanted to make their Lone Ranger film with werewolves. Now comes word that they’re incredibly close to making that deal, and production will start in early 2012.

According to Deadline, the deal will likely be sealed next ...

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Will Disney’s ‘Lone Ranger’ Ride On Without Gore Verbinski?

Sandy Schaefer — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:40:03 +0000

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks for Disney’s Lone Ranger movie. More than a few jaws dropped when news leaked out about the film’s $250 million estimated cost – and word that it was originally going to feature werewolves. That’s assuming you weren’t still hung up on the prospect of Johnny Depp playing American Indian Tonto, that is.

Director Gore Verbinski is still working to salvage the situation by cutting down the bloated budget. However, there’s some question now as to whether or not Disney might consider him part of the problem.

Deadline caught up with Disney executive Rich Ross at D23 over the weekend, where he told the site that “no one wants to work more with [producer Jerry Bruckheimer] and Johnny [Depp] more than me,” ...

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Gore Verbinski Working to Save ‘Lone Ranger’ by Slashing Budget

Rob Frappier — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 05:57:56 +0000

“Hi-ho, Silver! Away!” Disney’s Lone Ranger film may not be dead after all. According to new reports, Disney has given director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer a week to bring the project to a more reasonable budget.

As we reported last week, Disney canceled The Lone Ranger after the film’s budget bloomed to an unbelievable $250 million. At the time, everyone was scratching their head wondering how a Western (even a Verbinski Western) could be so expensive. Earlier this week, we found out why: werewolves (or, more accurately, supernatural computer-generated werewolves).

Needless to say, the thought of The Lone Ranger and Tonto going all Twilight on us wasn’t very appealing to anyone, especially since it meant the Johnny Depp-starring film wouldn’t get made ...

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Werewolves to Blame for $250 Million ‘Lone Ranger’ Budget

Ben Moore — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:26:23 +0000

Last week, it was announced that Disney had canceled the Gore Verbinski-directed and Jerry Bruckheimer-produced The Lone Ranger – starring Johnny Depp – because the producers couldn’t get the budget under $250 million. Naturally, this resulted in everyone on the planet passing out from sheer bafflement.

Why? Why would The Lone Ranger – an action-adventure/western film about a cowboy with a domino mask – cost nearly $200 million more than True Grit? According to a recent report, the why is… werewolves.

Lone Ranger was being written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, the same guys who wrote the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

Apparently, as far back as March of 2009, Elliot posted about the project on a private ...

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Disney Cancels Johnny Depp’s ‘Lone Ranger’

Rob Keyes — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 05:16:49 +0000

One of the biggest properties in development at Disney was that of The Lone Ranger (with or without the “the”), a film that has long had Johnny Depp attached attached, with recent casting additions including Armie Hammer as the title character and supporting cast members to be played by Helena Bonham Carter, Barry Pepper and Tom Wilkinson.

This new Lone Ranger remake was to be directed by Gore Verbinski, whose ideas for a new take on the character and story had long-time fans of the character on edge. They don’t have to worry any longer however, as Disney just put an end to the project. That’s right folks, The Lone Ranger isn’t happening anymore. Hi-ho, Silver, away (from theaters!)

Why would Disney cancel a ...

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‘Lone Ranger’ Casts Helena Bonham Carter, Barry Pepper, & More

Sandy Schaefer — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:08:47 +0000

Here’s a twist for you: Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter now look to appear together in a film that is NOT being directed by Tim Burton. Instead, it’ll be helmed by another fellow Depp has a good working relationship with (Gore Verbinski), on Disney’s Lone Ranger.

Carter is currently in talks to sign on for Lone Ranger, as are two actors familiar with the western genre (in a good way): actor Barry Pepper (True Grit) and actor/musician Dwight Yoakam (The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada).

Depp is the big selling point for Lone Ranger, where he’ll play the Ranger’s capable American Indian sidekick, Tonto. Armie Hammer is also onboard as the main hero, who is reportedly being refashioned ...

Click to continue reading ‘Lone Ranger’ Casts Helena Bonham Carter, Barry Pepper, & More

‘Lone Ranger’ & ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D’ Snag Female Leads

Sandy Schaefer — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:38:42 +0000

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.
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Tom Wilkinson May Be A Villain In ‘Lone Ranger’

Sandy Schaefer — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:47:44 +0000

Oscar-nominee Tom Wilkinson is reportedly in talks to join the cast of Gore Verbinski’s Lone Ranger, an adaptation of the classic radio show/TV series about a masked Texas Ranger and his loyal American Indian sidekick, Tonto.

Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp will bring the Ranger and Tonto to life, respectively, in Walt Disney Pictures’ adaptation – which is not going the now customary “dark and gritty” route of most upcoming Hollywood projects, but has instead garnered controversy due to Verbinski’s plans to tell the Lone Ranger story in an unconventional and more whimsical fashion.

However, before we get to that, it ought to be noted that Wilkinson seems to be in talks to play a villain in Lone Ranger – or, rather, Variety says the actor is up ...

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Disney’s ‘Lone Ranger’ Lassoes A Release Date

Sandy Schaefer — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:56:35 +0000

Director Gore Verbinski and actor Johnny Depp are ready to team up again on another period adventure tale. This time, however, it won’t involve swashbucklers and magical creatures; rather, it’ll feature action out in the Old West, with a possibly delusional Texan Ranger and his American Indian compatriot Tonto (Depp) – otherwise known as Walt Disney Picture’s Lone Ranger movie.

Disney has gone ahead and selected an official release date for its new Depp vehicle, which is now set to hit theaters before the all-but-inevitable Pirates of the Caribbean 5 arrives – thanks in part to Depp (basically) wanting to take a breather from playing his iconic pirate character, Jack Sparrow, for now.

Deadline has learned that Lone Ranger is now scheduled to reach theaters on December 21st, 2012 [insert obligatory ...

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