After the back and forth with various casting announcements that were on, then off, then replaced, we now have a confirmed lead actor for the role of the titular do-gooder in Disney’s planned Lone Ranger movie (The Social Network’s Armie Hammer), and now it appears, a finalized release date, which means production won’t be too far off starting.
The film; based on the classic western hero known from the old radio shows, and TV series; is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean), is set in Texas 1869, and places Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp in the role of the masked ranger’s Native American sidekick Tonto; who saves the ranger after he is left for dead, and is the one who provides him with his masked identity.
Having been written by Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road), The Lone Ranger was originally scheduled for a release in 2014, but is now slated to appear in cinemas much sooner than that; as production is due to begin later this year, ahead of a December 21st, 2012 release; putting it in direct competition with other prolific holiday movies, such as The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (the first part of Peter Jackson’s upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel).
Matt Wheeldon.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter.
