UPDATE (11:36 p.m.): Big oops on my part. It turns out Depp will be playing Tonto in “The Lone Ranger,” not the hero himself. Which, frankly, strikes me as even odder. But anyway, sorry for getting ahead of myself this afternoon.
EARLIER: So…what do we think about this? The news has broken out of the Kodak Theater during a Disney event this afternoon and is slowly trickling its way through the web. Before long, it’ll likely be the biggest entertainment story of the week, maybe the month, because these things get inflated when a guy like Depp and a property like “The Lone Ranger” come together, so let’s dig into it now.
A Bruckheimer/Verbinski/Rossio/Elliot collaboration on this material is a perfect conception and exactly what would make it work at a time when the western is struggling to make its way to relevance once again. But I’m approaching this news with some measured reserve. The likely reaction will be a gigantic: “That’s awesome!” But I dunno…
This is an exciting project regardless. “The Lone Ranger” has quickly become one of my most anticipated films in the Hollywood pipeline and despite my ambivalence about today’s news, it still is.
Also announced at the event, by the way, was that there will be a fourth installment of “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Considering the dollars involved in that franchise, it’s certainly not a surprise, but I don’t think I’m alone when I say: “Ugh.”
Additionally, Depp was “officially” announced as Tim Burton’s Mad Hatter in the upcoming “Alice in Wonderland.”
Tell us what you think of Johnny Depp’s casting trifecta this afternoon.
Comments
11 responses to “Johnny Depp to star as Tonto in Bruckheimer’s ‘Lone Ranger’”
Is Verbinski confirmed for Lone Ranger or Pirates 4? I think he’s making Bioshock at Universal right now, so it’ll be interesting to see if he stays with these properties or if another director comes aboard.
I think Depp will bring energy to what ever project he is on, with that said though, I have a hard time seeing him in a western flick. Although he was in Dead Man, but I haven’t seen that so my imagination is still stretching to see him in one.
i think it’s strange that you have the lone ranger headlining and Pirates 4 and Alice in Wonderland as like, after thoughts
And Depp sells his soul.
You know what should be made into a movie? The Lone Ranger and Tonto fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie, but no. Depp is decides to cash in.`
What about Shantaram?
This article says Depp won’t be the Lone Ranger…
movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/va/20080925/122232659600.htm
Not really afterthoughts, JAB. We all knew the Hatter decision was coming and a 4th Pirates film was inevitable. Plus, considering at the time I accidentally thought Depp was playing the title role, I got a little more excited. Oh well, the perils of posting on the fly on a busy day.
Heh, a friend of mine seriusly adored The Lone Ranger. It’s his favorite show of all time. He’ll love it.
What’s with this news overload from the Kodak Theatre anyhow. Pirates 4? Treasure 3? Cars 2? What’s next, Steamboat Willy 2?
really? national treasure 3? I’m sorry, how do you make a trilogy of a ripoff of DaVinci Code?
Personally, ever single one of these movies is an afterthought.
A real novel idea would be to actually cast a Native American as Tonto since he’s, you know, an Indian and all.
[…] by Cinematically-Correct on September 25, 2008 Yesterday afternoon, InContention.com’s Kristopher Tapley reported that Johnny Depp will star in not one, not two, but three different flicks for Disney. The […]
[…] Depp will be playing Tonto in the upcoming Lone Ranger movie. We get the scoop from Mr. Tapley at InContentiono: It turns out Depp will be playing Tonto in “The Lone Ranger,†not the hero […]