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Lone Ranger Fan Club |
New Lone Ranger Movie
What's next for Depp?
This from Entertainment Weekly: We won't pretend to know how Johnny Depp's mind
works, but we think it's safe to assume that his fans weren't happy when they read that
his potential projects are all currently in flux. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he's
yet to sign on to Enchanted director Kevin Lima's remake of The Incredible Mr. Limpet.
(Depp in a Don Knotts role, we could die happy.) Disney has to search for a new
helmer for the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film since Gore Verbinski bailed (and
budget cuts could mean no Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley). The Lone Ranger pic,
to which Depp is attached to play Tonto, is also in need of a director...and a leading
man...either of whom could want rewrites. And Depp's next collaboration with Tim
Burton, a big-screen take on TV's spooky Dark Shadows, could be delayed since
Burton won't begin prepping until he's done readying their Alice in Wonderland for its
March 2010 release.
Disney "Pirates" Lone Ranger priority
In a story on HitFix, producer Jerry Bruckheimer broke some news regarding the fourth
incarnation of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise and the previously announced
big screen incarnation of the “Lone Ranger.” Both movies have Johnny Depp in the mix,
but Bruckheimer said “The Lone Ranger” is not the priority for Walt Disney Pictures.
“I think for Disney it will mostly be ‘Pirates,’ obviously,” Bruckheimer said. “That's a great
franchise for them and for us too. Beloved, with a great character and Johnny’s really
excited about coming back to Captain Jack.”
When asked whether Depp preferred to shoot “Lone Ranger” versus a return to
Captain Jack, Bruckheimer reiterated that while Depp was interested in Tonto, but
“Disney’s priority is to get (a fourth) ‘Pirates’ made.”
Depp: Lone Ranger should be a fool
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair magazine, Johnny Depp speaks publicly for the
first time about the Lone Ranger movie project. In it, he says the Lone Ranger should
be a fool.
The article says, “Now the 46-year-old actor is considering offers to play Tonto as a
shrewd man behind the legend in a remake of ‘The Lone Ranger.’
‘Tonto needs to be in charge,’ says Depp, who is part Cherokee Indian. ‘The Lone
Ranger should be a fool, a lovable one, but a fool nonetheless.’”
Movie date pushed back to 2012
According to IMDB.com, the release of the Lone Ranger movie has been pushed back
to 2012.
Mike Newell may direct Lone Ranger
Director Mike Newell, 67, is reportedly in talks to direct the new Lone Ranger movie for
producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
Newell is currently in post-production on Bruckheimer’s “Prince of Persia: The Sands of
Time.” Among his better-known directorial products are “Harry Potter and the Goblet of
Fire,” “Mona Lisa Smile,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Amazing Grace and Chuck,”
and two episodes of “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.”
Please note that he is in talks to direct and has not been announced as the director.
New movie may be in 3-D
According to collider.com, Jerry Bruckheimer is considering doing "The Lone Ranger"
and the fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie in 3-D. Also, MTV reports that the
director of the new Green Hornet movie said he may slip in a salute to the Lone
Ranger, who is the Hornet's great-uncle.
Jerry Bruckheimer says script is done
According to MTV, Jerry Bruckheimer let slip that, while the script is done and Johnny
Depp has signed on as Tonto there’s still a little matter of finding the lead.
Bruckheimer jokingly said wants input from the fans at to who should wear the mask.
In another interview, he said the new movie will have a "supernatural element" to it.
Johnny Depp to play Tonto in new movie by Disney
By Joe Southern
The Silver Bullet
Best known for his role as the swashbuckling pirate Jack Sparrow from the “Pirates of
the Caribbean” movies, Johnny Depp is about to take on his best-known role yet — the
part of Tonto.
The Indian companion to the Lone Ranger has been around for 75 years and has been
portrayed by numerous actors, most notably Jay Silverheels on television and in the
movies and John Todd on the radio program.
Now, Depp is about to take a stab at the role in a new movie for Walt Disney Studios.
Depp, who is known for playing quirky characters, is being kept very busy by Disney.
He is currently playing the Mad Hatter in a live version of “Alice in Wonderland.” After
that he will be Tonto, followed by a return to the dreadlocks and mascara of Jack
Sparrow in a fourth “Pirates” movie.
According to various sources, the new Lone Ranger movie, produced by Jerry
Bruckheimer, is due out in 2010. Official sources say that is not set in stone.
We asked script co-writer Terry Rossio about an update in the script he is writing with
Ted Elliott.
“Not much information available yet,” he said. “The screenplay is still being written. Until
it’s done, we won't know the status on the project. We need the studio to like it, the
producer to like it; we need a director to want to make it, and for actors to want to play
it. Only when (and if) all that happens will there be a start date and an actual movie. So
you can see we’re a long way off.”
In a widely published interview, however, Bruckheimer hinted that the script was well in
progress and that the writers were gearing up to start on the “Pirates” script soon.
Bruckheimer was asked about the rumors about George Clooney playing the part of the
Lone Ranger. According to Bruckheimer the Clooney
rumor is untrue.
“We haven’t decided who is going to play the Lone Ranger yet. Get a director first and
then figure it out,” he said in a published interview.
That leaves open some wide speculation as to who will wear the mask and ride the
great, white stallion. If Bruckheimer knows, he’s playing his cards close to his vest.
According to the Ineternet Movie Data Base Web site, the movie is executive produced
by Chad Oman and Mike Stenson, who work often with Bruckheimer.
As for Depp, the only confirmed actor at the time of this writing, he claims to be part
Indian.
According to his profile on IMDB, “He has said in interviews that he is of Cherokee, Irish,
and German descent, with some Navajo as well. Asked the origin of his last name by
James Lipton on Inside the Actors Studio, Johnny Depp said his name means ‘idiot’ in
German.”
Among Depp’s other film credits are “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Edward
Scissorhands,” “The Astronaut’s Wife,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “Nightmare on Elm Street,” and
most recently “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”
Chances are good most everyone reading this has seen some of the movies and
television shows that Bruckheimer has produced. A small sampling includes the “CSI”
programs, “Cold Case,” “Without a Trace,” “Amazing Race,” “National Treasure,”
“Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Blackhawk Down, “Pearl Harbor,””Beverly Hills Cop,” “Days
of Thunder,” and “Top Gun.”
Rossio and Elliott have also written many movies you are bound to be familiar with.
Among them are the “Zorro” movies, “National Treasure,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,”
“Shrek,” “Road to El Dorado,” “Treasure Planet,” “Godzilla” and “Aladdin.”
Obviously the four men have collaborated quite a bit, but have made their biggest mark
with the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies. Disney has used their work on the movies to
revamp the theme park ride that inspired them. It has been rumored that Disney wants
to give Frontierland a Lone Ranger makeover. If that’s the case, it appears the studio
will be pushing for a huge blockbuster, and they’ve turned to their aces to pull it off.
Here’s hoping so.
Fred Foy, Terry Salomonson confirm involvement
Fred Foy has a really good feeling about the new Lone Ranger movie by Walt Disney
Studios. Not only was he consulted by co-writer Terry Rossio about the masked man,
he has recently been informed that “Lone Ranger” radio historian and author Terry
Salomonson has been brought aboard as a technical director for the film. Terry is the
author of many old time radio books, including the “Lone Ranger Log.”
“The people associated with the movie have called him to be a technical director for the
movie,” Fred said. “He’s the perfect choice to follow along to see that they’re following
the storyline.” A call to Terry confirmed his appointment.
As for news that Johnny Depp has been cast as Tonto, Fred feels he’ll do a good job. “I
think he’ll be fine,” he said. Fred said he is a little concerned that a full-blooded Indian
wasn’t cast for the part. “I’m sure he’ll get some bad vibes from actors who are of Indian
decent,” he said. “I still believe it’s going to be a wonderful movie when it is finished.
Johnny Depp to play Tonto
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- In a gala adorned with Hollywood stars, The Walt Disney Co.
wowed an industry crowd Wednesday in a showcase of its upcoming films that included
a sequel to its 1982 sci-fi flick "Tron" and a "Lone Ranger" remake with Johnny Depp as
Tonto.
The daylong presentation at the Kodak Theatre, home of the Oscars, delivered
repeated surprises as actors emerged onstage to tout animated 3-D movies, live-action
thrillers and comedies -- with animal co-stars ranging from guinea pigs and chihuahuas
to humpback whales.
Jim Carrey, starring in his first Disney film, a 3-D motion capture remake of Charles
Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," summed up the chaos of his performance, in which he
plays seven characters including Ebenezer Scrooge.
"It's pretty much just a party and everyone's invited," he said.
Commenting on Disney's lengthy rollout, which included a full screening of the animated
dog-hero movie "Bolt," Carrey told out-of-town guests, "You can go back home and say
these saddle sores came from Hollywood."
Exclusive interview with Terry Rossio
By Joe Southern
The Silver Bullet
We recently posed some questions about the new Lone Ranger movie to co-writer
Terry Rossio. He was gracious enough to take the time to respond and his answers
appear below.
What attracted you to this project?
The Lone Ranger, along with Tonto and Silver, are classic icons of American pop
culture. The characters exist in the public consciousness yet are remarkably undefined.
This creates an opportunity, as the Lone Ranger title creates enormous interest, yet we’
re still free to define the title for a new generation of filmgoers. Or my answer could
have been simply, “Hey, it’s the Lone Ranger! Who wouldn’t want to do the Lone
Ranger?”
How familiar with the Lone Ranger are you? Have you been a fan?
I’m just old enough to have seen some of the reruns of the original television series
when I was a kid. I guess I’m a fan, I’m going to have a chance to meet Fred Foy in a
few weeks, and I’m pretty excited about that. (NOTE: see our interview with Foy below.)
Will the story retell the origin or be a new adventure?
We don't think those two approaches are mutually exclusive. We hope to be able to tell
the origin of the Lone Ranger and then involve the Lone Ranger and Tonto in an
adventure story no one has ever seen.
Is there likely to be more than one movie, as was hinted by Jerry Bruckheimer in an
earlier interview?
Well, that’s the funny thing about Hollywood. At this point I can’t say there will definitely
even be one movie. It’s very, very difficult to get a film made. Right now you could say
we’re in great shape, other than the fact we don’t have a script, we don’t have a
director, we don’t have any stars, and we don’t have a start date.
I think we’ve got the script part solved, but the studio and the producers have to agree,
and we have to find a director with enough stature to take it on, and then we have to
get stars to commit to the roles, at a budget that makes sense, etc. After that, the film
would have to be a hit to consider a sequel, as always it’s ultimately up to the audience.
That’s a lot of steps.
Are you interested in doing a new take on the characters (like the Dynamite
Entertainment comic) or will you follow the canon set down by Fran Striker?
Again those are not mutually exclusive choices. Absolutely we want to follow the canon
set down by Fran Striker, in some aspects we’re contractually obligated to do so. But at
the same time, in some ways, this has to be a new take; the filmic conventions of the
genre have changed, and we don’t have Clayton Moore, John Hart or Jay Silverheels.
Casting alone makes for a new incarnation of the characters.
Do you have anyone in mind that you would like to see play the Lone Ranger
and Tonto?
You know as a writer, I don’t do casting in my head; to me the Lone Ranger is beyond
anyone who might play him. I never thought of Clayton Moore playing the Lone Ranger,
there was just the Lone Ranger, he existed and he was real, and his world was real. At
least that’s how it feels at this point, at the writing stage.
From our interview with Fred Foy
By Joe Southern
The Silver Bullet
The bad news is that Fred had to cancel his appearance at the Memphis Film Festival
due to health reasons. He’s fine, but his appearance a few weeks ago at SPERDVAC
(Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy) wore him out
enough that his doctor advised him to slow down and take it easy.
“Too many times I’m thinking I’m 47 but I’m 87,” he said. “It caught up to me.”
The good news is that while he was there he got to have a conversation with Terry
Rossio, who is co-writing the new Lone Ranger movie for Disney.
“We had lunch and he talked quite effusively about writing the new movie and things
they’re working on,” Fred said. “He said that we are going to do this movie just as the
story was written. They’re sticking to the storyline.”
Fred went on to say, “If it goes the way they’re planning, it will be the best Lone Ranger
film ever done.” He said he admires Rossio very much.
“This would be exactly what we all want to see,” Fred said.
Fred said he really enjoyed the SPERDVAC convention. “Dick Beals was there. It was
very good to see him,” he said.
He said the convention was very well done.
“I played the role of the Ranger in a script I had never seen before,” he said.
Though he will not be able to attend the Memphis Film Festival, he said he really
wanted to be there to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Lone Ranger. He said he
will miss all the fans but wishes everyone well.
Fred, we’ll miss you too, but we understand and wish you a long, healthy and happy life.
Posted by Terry Rossio on his forum at www.wordplayer.com
(Read the whole post at the link above.)
How is your adaption of the Lone Ranger going?
As always, painfully slow. Or slow and painful. But I can say I'm very hopeful and excited
for our story and our approach. It has the potential to be good.
What stage are you up to?
Breaking the story, character design, working through the unfolding narrative,
designing the world.
Elliott and Rossio writing Lone Ranger script
(From Entertainment Weekly) Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio, writers of Disney's Pirates of
the Caribbean movies, are in final negotiations to pen a live-action movie adaptation of
The Lone Ranger for Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Ranger, which began as
a radio show in the 1930s, went on to become a huge franchise, launching films, a TV
series, toys, comics, books, and more. The most recent movie, 1981's The Legend of
the Lone Ranger, failed miserably, marking star Klinton Spilsbury's final major role in
Hollywood. Elliot and Rossio are seen as a good fit to revive the franchise, as they
previously breathed new life into Zorro (the hit movie The Mask of Zorro) as well as old
pirate stories, with a little help from Johnny Depp.
'Pirates' team wrangling the Lone Ranger
Compiled by Joe Southern
The Silver Bullet
Before Jerry Bruckheimer decided to produce “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the
Black Pearl,” nobody in Hollywood would have thought twice about making a pirate
movie, let alone one based on a theme park ride. Now, a trilogy and a couple billion or
so later, pirates are the latest craze and people can’t get enough out of what once was
a dead film genera.
One can only hope he’ll do the same thing for Westerns, particularly The Lone Ranger.
“It’s being written, well it’s not being written now, but it’s about to be written,” he told
MTV News. “We were just working out the story before the strike and hopefully that will
end soon and we can continue on.”
MTV News goes on: We, in this case, means ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ writers Ted
Elliott and Terry Rossio. But don’t think that means the titular hero will be anything like
Captain Jack,
cautions Bruckheimer, who revealed that the story wouldn’t be an update, but instead
something of an origin story. That means adhering to the strict moral code laid down by
‘Lone Ranger’ creator Fran Striker. ‘I wouldn’t say it’s an updating of the tale, I would
say it’s kind of getting back to the
roots of the tale,’ Bruckheimer confessed. ‘Where it originated from — it’s about Texas
Rangers, so we’re going to take it to how the characters are created.’”
Last May, when “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” was going strong in the
theaters, writers Elliott and Rossio revealed to Variety that they were working on a Lone
Ranger project for Bruckheimer.
According to Bill Warren’s interview with Bruckheimer, which appeared in the June issue
of Starlog Magazine, Bruckheimer said, “The first picture I ever made was a Western —
The Culpepper Cattle Company. I hope I can make a big-scale Western someday.”
JimHillMedia.com reported last year that “definitive proof that this Lone Ranger revival
project actually is in the works” came Feb. 22, 2007, when the Walt Disney Company
purchased the following domain names: LONERANGER-MOVIE.COM,
THELONERANGER-MOVIE.COM, THELONERANGER-THEMOVIE.COM.
“According to several studio insiders that I spoke with over the past week, this ‘Lone
Ranger’ project is supposed to be Disney's designated blockbuster for the summer of
2010,” Hill reported.
He continues: “Mind you, what really helps in this particular situation is that Bruckheimer
has reportedly recruited Rossio and Elliot to write the screenplay for this big budget
Western. And given all the great work they did on ‘The Mask of Zorro’ and ‘The Legend
of Zorro’ these two clearly have a gift when it comes to reinventing (more importantly,
reinvigorating) seemingly played-out film genres.
And I know of at least two divisions of the Walt Disney Company that really want this
‘Lone Ranger’ film project to be an enormous success:
Disney Consumer Products — which (provided that this film is a huge hit) will then be
able to sell Lone Ranger-themed toys, games, action figures, costumes and
accessories to young boys the world over.
Walt Disney Imagineering — which wants the new Western to be a real blockbuster so
that they can then use The Lone Ranger to help revive a long-dormant project to build
an elaborate outdoor stunt show in the area that Disneyland's seriously-under-used Big
Thunder Ranch facility currently occupies.
You know what's kind of ironic about this whole situation? In order to acquire the rights
to use the Long Ranger characters in a movie, Walt Disney Studios first had to pay
Entertainment Rights PLC an enormous amount of money. “And what's so ironic about
that?” you ask. Well, back in March of 1988, in order to finally gain control of the
Disneyland Hotel, the Walt Disney Company first had to buy the Wrather Corporation.
Which, in addition to owning that Anaheim resort, also owned all of the rights to The
Lone Ranger. But because Mouse House officials were so eager to recover the $85
million that they’d just spent to acquire Wrather, they quickly turned around and sold off
all of those old television and radio shows to the highest bidder, which is how
Entertainment Rights PLC eventually wound up with control of the Lone Ranger
characters.
And from what I've been hearing, Disney then had to agree to pay this UK-based media
company more than 10 times what the company originally made off of the sale of all of
those old Lone Ranger TV shows and radio broadcasts in order to be able to use these
characters in this new Jerry Bruckheimer film.
And then — when you factor in that this ambitious new Western will probably cost just
as much as “The Curse of the Black Pearl” did to produce (I.E. $120 - $135 million) —
well, Mouse House officials are really hoping that millions of people worldwide will be
willing to part with a little silver in order to see the Lone Ranger and Silver up on the big
screen again.”
Hi-Yo Silver, away!
Bruckheimer to make Lone Ranger
movies for Disney!
I said I wouldn't believe it untill I heard it from the horse's mouth. Well, this appears to
be it. This news comes from MTV News:
"Hi-Ho Silver, away!"
A modern movie hero who doesn't curse, doesn't use slang, who doesn't drink or
smoke or visit saloons, who believes in God and country and a strict moral code, who
only uses guns when he has to, and even then never shoots to kill? The American
West is about to get a dose of reserved cowboy justice, as super producer Jerry
Bruckheimer has confirmed to MTV News that he’s developing a "Lone Ranger" series
of films.
"It's being written, well it's not being written now, but it's about to be written," he said of
the rumored project. "We were just working out the story before the strike and hopefully
that will end soon and we can continue on."
We, in this case, means "Pirates of the Caribbean" writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio.
But don't think that means the titular hero will be anything like Captain Jack, cautions
Bruckheimer, who revealed that the story wouldn't be an update, but instead something
of an origin story. That means adhering to the strict moral code laid down by "Lone
Ranger" creator Fran Striker.
"I wouldn't say it's an updating of the tale, I would say it's kind of getting back to the
roots of the tale," Bruckheimer confessed. "Where it originated from — it's about Texas
Rangers, so we’re going to take it to how the characters are created."
It would be a somewhat fitting next step for Bruckheimer and crew, considering that
fifteen years ago the two genres that were universally acknowledged to be dead were
pirate movies and westerns. When you've conquered one, why not go for the other?
On the future of that first lucrative franchise, meanwhile, Bruckheimer said the ime
isn't yet right to discuss "Pirates 4."
"Not yet, not yet," he said, smiling. "We're still counting the money from the last one!"
Sony is no longer making
Lone Ranger movie
NOTE: Sony's Red Wagon Productions has announced that it is no longer
involved in the Lone Ranger movie project. As far as we know, the movie will
not be made. We will update this page if that changes for any reason.
At this time the script for the movie is in development. No one has been cast for the
parts. A filming date has not been set and there is no date yet for it to reach theaters.
Does anyone have any updated information about this project? If so, please let us
know at lonerangerfanclub@sbcglobal.net.Thanks!
September 2006: This is the latest word about the movie: Jonathan Mostow hasn't
been involved with the project for a while now, so Sub-Mariner doesn't really impact us.
September 2006: It has been reported that Jonathan Mostow is clearing his schedule
to write and direct the new Sub-Mariner movie for Marvel. At this time we don't know
what that means for the Lone Ranger movie. Our best guess is there will be no new
Lone Ranger movie in time for the 75th anniversary in 2008.
March 2006: Classic Media has informed me that the part of Tonto in the new movie
will be played by a man and not a woman, as had been rumored!
February 2006: Lone Ranger "in development"
I spoke with a representative with Red Wagon Productions. They are not releasing any
additional information at this time except to say that it's "in development." I've been
assured we will receive information as it becomes available. Stay tuned!
Movie postponed again, June 2005
We have recently received word that the new Lone Ranger movie has been postponed
to either 2008 to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the radio program or to 2009 for
the 60th anniversary of the television program.
Director, new writer hired, December 2004
The movie now has a director, Jonathan Mostow, who directed Terminator 3 and U-571.
The script is currently being re-written by screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis, who has writing
credits for X-Men, Alexander, Laura Croft: Tomb Raider and Scream 3. Kalogridis also
developed and wrote the television series Birds of Prey for the WB network.
The latest information as of September 2004:
Two years ago it was announced that Columbia Pictures had optioned to do a new
Lone Ranger movie. Since then very little information about it has come to light. We
recently asked Classic Media the status of the movie and were told that it is in “script
development.” Shortly afterward fan club member and noted movie critic Leonard Maltin
posted this update on his Web site (www.leonardmaltin.com): “I’ll have some more Lone
Ranger merchandise news in the weeks ahead, and if all goes well, we’ll be seeing a
new Lone Ranger movie in 2006, courtesy of producer Douglas Wick (Gladiator, Stuart
Little). I would encourage Mr. Wick to watch the WB network’s embarrassing series pilot
for a Ranger series, which aired last year, and make a vow not to repeat their mistakes.”
History prior to the above information
Here is the latest news we have on this project. In 2002, Columbia Pictures optioned to
make a Lone Ranger movie. The husband and wife producing team of Doug Wick and
Lucy Fisher of Sony-based Red Wagon Productions -- the people who produced
Gladiator and Stuart Little -- are heading this project. The buzz at the time is that the
part of Tonto would be played by a woman. That rumor has members of the Lone
Ranger Fan Club and Lone Ranger fans in general outraged.
Last year David Webb Peoples was hired to write the screenplay. He is credited with
such works as the Oscar-winning Unforgiven and Twelve Monkeys.
Obviously there are some top-notch people working on this film. Despite the rumor of
Tonto as a woman, this is shaping up to be a high-caliber production. So far we have
heard nothing about casting, filming or even a potential release date. We will keep you
posted here as things develop. If you have any knowledge about this project, please
don't hesitate to let us know.
This from Entertainment Weekly: We won't pretend to know how Johnny Depp's mind
works, but we think it's safe to assume that his fans weren't happy when they read that
his potential projects are all currently in flux. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he's
yet to sign on to Enchanted director Kevin Lima's remake of The Incredible Mr. Limpet.
(Depp in a Don Knotts role, we could die happy.) Disney has to search for a new
helmer for the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film since Gore Verbinski bailed (and
budget cuts could mean no Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley). The Lone Ranger pic,
to which Depp is attached to play Tonto, is also in need of a director...and a leading
man...either of whom could want rewrites. And Depp's next collaboration with Tim
Burton, a big-screen take on TV's spooky Dark Shadows, could be delayed since
Burton won't begin prepping until he's done readying their Alice in Wonderland for its
March 2010 release.
Disney "Pirates" Lone Ranger priority
In a story on HitFix, producer Jerry Bruckheimer broke some news regarding the fourth
incarnation of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise and the previously announced
big screen incarnation of the “Lone Ranger.” Both movies have Johnny Depp in the mix,
but Bruckheimer said “The Lone Ranger” is not the priority for Walt Disney Pictures.
“I think for Disney it will mostly be ‘Pirates,’ obviously,” Bruckheimer said. “That's a great
franchise for them and for us too. Beloved, with a great character and Johnny’s really
excited about coming back to Captain Jack.”
When asked whether Depp preferred to shoot “Lone Ranger” versus a return to
Captain Jack, Bruckheimer reiterated that while Depp was interested in Tonto, but
“Disney’s priority is to get (a fourth) ‘Pirates’ made.”
Depp: Lone Ranger should be a fool
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair magazine, Johnny Depp speaks publicly for the
first time about the Lone Ranger movie project. In it, he says the Lone Ranger should
be a fool.
The article says, “Now the 46-year-old actor is considering offers to play Tonto as a
shrewd man behind the legend in a remake of ‘The Lone Ranger.’
‘Tonto needs to be in charge,’ says Depp, who is part Cherokee Indian. ‘The Lone
Ranger should be a fool, a lovable one, but a fool nonetheless.’”
Movie date pushed back to 2012
According to IMDB.com, the release of the Lone Ranger movie has been pushed back
to 2012.
Mike Newell may direct Lone Ranger
Director Mike Newell, 67, is reportedly in talks to direct the new Lone Ranger movie for
producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
Newell is currently in post-production on Bruckheimer’s “Prince of Persia: The Sands of
Time.” Among his better-known directorial products are “Harry Potter and the Goblet of
Fire,” “Mona Lisa Smile,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Amazing Grace and Chuck,”
and two episodes of “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.”
Please note that he is in talks to direct and has not been announced as the director.
New movie may be in 3-D
According to collider.com, Jerry Bruckheimer is considering doing "The Lone Ranger"
and the fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie in 3-D. Also, MTV reports that the
director of the new Green Hornet movie said he may slip in a salute to the Lone
Ranger, who is the Hornet's great-uncle.
Jerry Bruckheimer says script is done
According to MTV, Jerry Bruckheimer let slip that, while the script is done and Johnny
Depp has signed on as Tonto there’s still a little matter of finding the lead.
Bruckheimer jokingly said wants input from the fans at to who should wear the mask.
In another interview, he said the new movie will have a "supernatural element" to it.
Johnny Depp to play Tonto in new movie by Disney
By Joe Southern
The Silver Bullet
Best known for his role as the swashbuckling pirate Jack Sparrow from the “Pirates of
the Caribbean” movies, Johnny Depp is about to take on his best-known role yet — the
part of Tonto.
The Indian companion to the Lone Ranger has been around for 75 years and has been
portrayed by numerous actors, most notably Jay Silverheels on television and in the
movies and John Todd on the radio program.
Now, Depp is about to take a stab at the role in a new movie for Walt Disney Studios.
Depp, who is known for playing quirky characters, is being kept very busy by Disney.
He is currently playing the Mad Hatter in a live version of “Alice in Wonderland.” After
that he will be Tonto, followed by a return to the dreadlocks and mascara of Jack
Sparrow in a fourth “Pirates” movie.
According to various sources, the new Lone Ranger movie, produced by Jerry
Bruckheimer, is due out in 2010. Official sources say that is not set in stone.
We asked script co-writer Terry Rossio about an update in the script he is writing with
Ted Elliott.
“Not much information available yet,” he said. “The screenplay is still being written. Until
it’s done, we won't know the status on the project. We need the studio to like it, the
producer to like it; we need a director to want to make it, and for actors to want to play
it. Only when (and if) all that happens will there be a start date and an actual movie. So
you can see we’re a long way off.”
In a widely published interview, however, Bruckheimer hinted that the script was well in
progress and that the writers were gearing up to start on the “Pirates” script soon.
Bruckheimer was asked about the rumors about George Clooney playing the part of the
Lone Ranger. According to Bruckheimer the Clooney
rumor is untrue.
“We haven’t decided who is going to play the Lone Ranger yet. Get a director first and
then figure it out,” he said in a published interview.
That leaves open some wide speculation as to who will wear the mask and ride the
great, white stallion. If Bruckheimer knows, he’s playing his cards close to his vest.
According to the Ineternet Movie Data Base Web site, the movie is executive produced
by Chad Oman and Mike Stenson, who work often with Bruckheimer.
As for Depp, the only confirmed actor at the time of this writing, he claims to be part
Indian.
According to his profile on IMDB, “He has said in interviews that he is of Cherokee, Irish,
and German descent, with some Navajo as well. Asked the origin of his last name by
James Lipton on Inside the Actors Studio, Johnny Depp said his name means ‘idiot’ in
German.”
Among Depp’s other film credits are “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Edward
Scissorhands,” “The Astronaut’s Wife,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “Nightmare on Elm Street,” and
most recently “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”
Chances are good most everyone reading this has seen some of the movies and
television shows that Bruckheimer has produced. A small sampling includes the “CSI”
programs, “Cold Case,” “Without a Trace,” “Amazing Race,” “National Treasure,”
“Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Blackhawk Down, “Pearl Harbor,””Beverly Hills Cop,” “Days
of Thunder,” and “Top Gun.”
Rossio and Elliott have also written many movies you are bound to be familiar with.
Among them are the “Zorro” movies, “National Treasure,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,”
“Shrek,” “Road to El Dorado,” “Treasure Planet,” “Godzilla” and “Aladdin.”
Obviously the four men have collaborated quite a bit, but have made their biggest mark
with the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies. Disney has used their work on the movies to
revamp the theme park ride that inspired them. It has been rumored that Disney wants
to give Frontierland a Lone Ranger makeover. If that’s the case, it appears the studio
will be pushing for a huge blockbuster, and they’ve turned to their aces to pull it off.
Here’s hoping so.
Fred Foy, Terry Salomonson confirm involvement
Fred Foy has a really good feeling about the new Lone Ranger movie by Walt Disney
Studios. Not only was he consulted by co-writer Terry Rossio about the masked man,
he has recently been informed that “Lone Ranger” radio historian and author Terry
Salomonson has been brought aboard as a technical director for the film. Terry is the
author of many old time radio books, including the “Lone Ranger Log.”
“The people associated with the movie have called him to be a technical director for the
movie,” Fred said. “He’s the perfect choice to follow along to see that they’re following
the storyline.” A call to Terry confirmed his appointment.
As for news that Johnny Depp has been cast as Tonto, Fred feels he’ll do a good job. “I
think he’ll be fine,” he said. Fred said he is a little concerned that a full-blooded Indian
wasn’t cast for the part. “I’m sure he’ll get some bad vibes from actors who are of Indian
decent,” he said. “I still believe it’s going to be a wonderful movie when it is finished.
Johnny Depp to play Tonto
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- In a gala adorned with Hollywood stars, The Walt Disney Co.
wowed an industry crowd Wednesday in a showcase of its upcoming films that included
a sequel to its 1982 sci-fi flick "Tron" and a "Lone Ranger" remake with Johnny Depp as
Tonto.
The daylong presentation at the Kodak Theatre, home of the Oscars, delivered
repeated surprises as actors emerged onstage to tout animated 3-D movies, live-action
thrillers and comedies -- with animal co-stars ranging from guinea pigs and chihuahuas
to humpback whales.
Jim Carrey, starring in his first Disney film, a 3-D motion capture remake of Charles
Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," summed up the chaos of his performance, in which he
plays seven characters including Ebenezer Scrooge.
"It's pretty much just a party and everyone's invited," he said.
Commenting on Disney's lengthy rollout, which included a full screening of the animated
dog-hero movie "Bolt," Carrey told out-of-town guests, "You can go back home and say
these saddle sores came from Hollywood."
Exclusive interview with Terry Rossio
By Joe Southern
The Silver Bullet
We recently posed some questions about the new Lone Ranger movie to co-writer
Terry Rossio. He was gracious enough to take the time to respond and his answers
appear below.
What attracted you to this project?
The Lone Ranger, along with Tonto and Silver, are classic icons of American pop
culture. The characters exist in the public consciousness yet are remarkably undefined.
This creates an opportunity, as the Lone Ranger title creates enormous interest, yet we’
re still free to define the title for a new generation of filmgoers. Or my answer could
have been simply, “Hey, it’s the Lone Ranger! Who wouldn’t want to do the Lone
Ranger?”
How familiar with the Lone Ranger are you? Have you been a fan?
I’m just old enough to have seen some of the reruns of the original television series
when I was a kid. I guess I’m a fan, I’m going to have a chance to meet Fred Foy in a
few weeks, and I’m pretty excited about that. (NOTE: see our interview with Foy below.)
Will the story retell the origin or be a new adventure?
We don't think those two approaches are mutually exclusive. We hope to be able to tell
the origin of the Lone Ranger and then involve the Lone Ranger and Tonto in an
adventure story no one has ever seen.
Is there likely to be more than one movie, as was hinted by Jerry Bruckheimer in an
earlier interview?
Well, that’s the funny thing about Hollywood. At this point I can’t say there will definitely
even be one movie. It’s very, very difficult to get a film made. Right now you could say
we’re in great shape, other than the fact we don’t have a script, we don’t have a
director, we don’t have any stars, and we don’t have a start date.
I think we’ve got the script part solved, but the studio and the producers have to agree,
and we have to find a director with enough stature to take it on, and then we have to
get stars to commit to the roles, at a budget that makes sense, etc. After that, the film
would have to be a hit to consider a sequel, as always it’s ultimately up to the audience.
That’s a lot of steps.
Are you interested in doing a new take on the characters (like the Dynamite
Entertainment comic) or will you follow the canon set down by Fran Striker?
Again those are not mutually exclusive choices. Absolutely we want to follow the canon
set down by Fran Striker, in some aspects we’re contractually obligated to do so. But at
the same time, in some ways, this has to be a new take; the filmic conventions of the
genre have changed, and we don’t have Clayton Moore, John Hart or Jay Silverheels.
Casting alone makes for a new incarnation of the characters.
Do you have anyone in mind that you would like to see play the Lone Ranger
and Tonto?
You know as a writer, I don’t do casting in my head; to me the Lone Ranger is beyond
anyone who might play him. I never thought of Clayton Moore playing the Lone Ranger,
there was just the Lone Ranger, he existed and he was real, and his world was real. At
least that’s how it feels at this point, at the writing stage.
From our interview with Fred Foy
By Joe Southern
The Silver Bullet
The bad news is that Fred had to cancel his appearance at the Memphis Film Festival
due to health reasons. He’s fine, but his appearance a few weeks ago at SPERDVAC
(Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy) wore him out
enough that his doctor advised him to slow down and take it easy.
“Too many times I’m thinking I’m 47 but I’m 87,” he said. “It caught up to me.”
The good news is that while he was there he got to have a conversation with Terry
Rossio, who is co-writing the new Lone Ranger movie for Disney.
“We had lunch and he talked quite effusively about writing the new movie and things
they’re working on,” Fred said. “He said that we are going to do this movie just as the
story was written. They’re sticking to the storyline.”
Fred went on to say, “If it goes the way they’re planning, it will be the best Lone Ranger
film ever done.” He said he admires Rossio very much.
“This would be exactly what we all want to see,” Fred said.
Fred said he really enjoyed the SPERDVAC convention. “Dick Beals was there. It was
very good to see him,” he said.
He said the convention was very well done.
“I played the role of the Ranger in a script I had never seen before,” he said.
Though he will not be able to attend the Memphis Film Festival, he said he really
wanted to be there to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Lone Ranger. He said he
will miss all the fans but wishes everyone well.
Fred, we’ll miss you too, but we understand and wish you a long, healthy and happy life.
Posted by Terry Rossio on his forum at www.wordplayer.com
(Read the whole post at the link above.)
How is your adaption of the Lone Ranger going?
As always, painfully slow. Or slow and painful. But I can say I'm very hopeful and excited
for our story and our approach. It has the potential to be good.
What stage are you up to?
Breaking the story, character design, working through the unfolding narrative,
designing the world.
Elliott and Rossio writing Lone Ranger script
(From Entertainment Weekly) Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio, writers of Disney's Pirates of
the Caribbean movies, are in final negotiations to pen a live-action movie adaptation of
The Lone Ranger for Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Ranger, which began as
a radio show in the 1930s, went on to become a huge franchise, launching films, a TV
series, toys, comics, books, and more. The most recent movie, 1981's The Legend of
the Lone Ranger, failed miserably, marking star Klinton Spilsbury's final major role in
Hollywood. Elliot and Rossio are seen as a good fit to revive the franchise, as they
previously breathed new life into Zorro (the hit movie The Mask of Zorro) as well as old
pirate stories, with a little help from Johnny Depp.
'Pirates' team wrangling the Lone Ranger
Compiled by Joe Southern
The Silver Bullet
Before Jerry Bruckheimer decided to produce “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the
Black Pearl,” nobody in Hollywood would have thought twice about making a pirate
movie, let alone one based on a theme park ride. Now, a trilogy and a couple billion or
so later, pirates are the latest craze and people can’t get enough out of what once was
a dead film genera.
One can only hope he’ll do the same thing for Westerns, particularly The Lone Ranger.
“It’s being written, well it’s not being written now, but it’s about to be written,” he told
MTV News. “We were just working out the story before the strike and hopefully that will
end soon and we can continue on.”
MTV News goes on: We, in this case, means ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ writers Ted
Elliott and Terry Rossio. But don’t think that means the titular hero will be anything like
Captain Jack,
cautions Bruckheimer, who revealed that the story wouldn’t be an update, but instead
something of an origin story. That means adhering to the strict moral code laid down by
‘Lone Ranger’ creator Fran Striker. ‘I wouldn’t say it’s an updating of the tale, I would
say it’s kind of getting back to the
roots of the tale,’ Bruckheimer confessed. ‘Where it originated from — it’s about Texas
Rangers, so we’re going to take it to how the characters are created.’”
Last May, when “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” was going strong in the
theaters, writers Elliott and Rossio revealed to Variety that they were working on a Lone
Ranger project for Bruckheimer.
According to Bill Warren’s interview with Bruckheimer, which appeared in the June issue
of Starlog Magazine, Bruckheimer said, “The first picture I ever made was a Western —
The Culpepper Cattle Company. I hope I can make a big-scale Western someday.”
JimHillMedia.com reported last year that “definitive proof that this Lone Ranger revival
project actually is in the works” came Feb. 22, 2007, when the Walt Disney Company
purchased the following domain names: LONERANGER-MOVIE.COM,
THELONERANGER-MOVIE.COM, THELONERANGER-THEMOVIE.COM.
“According to several studio insiders that I spoke with over the past week, this ‘Lone
Ranger’ project is supposed to be Disney's designated blockbuster for the summer of
2010,” Hill reported.
He continues: “Mind you, what really helps in this particular situation is that Bruckheimer
has reportedly recruited Rossio and Elliot to write the screenplay for this big budget
Western. And given all the great work they did on ‘The Mask of Zorro’ and ‘The Legend
of Zorro’ these two clearly have a gift when it comes to reinventing (more importantly,
reinvigorating) seemingly played-out film genres.
And I know of at least two divisions of the Walt Disney Company that really want this
‘Lone Ranger’ film project to be an enormous success:
Disney Consumer Products — which (provided that this film is a huge hit) will then be
able to sell Lone Ranger-themed toys, games, action figures, costumes and
accessories to young boys the world over.
Walt Disney Imagineering — which wants the new Western to be a real blockbuster so
that they can then use The Lone Ranger to help revive a long-dormant project to build
an elaborate outdoor stunt show in the area that Disneyland's seriously-under-used Big
Thunder Ranch facility currently occupies.
You know what's kind of ironic about this whole situation? In order to acquire the rights
to use the Long Ranger characters in a movie, Walt Disney Studios first had to pay
Entertainment Rights PLC an enormous amount of money. “And what's so ironic about
that?” you ask. Well, back in March of 1988, in order to finally gain control of the
Disneyland Hotel, the Walt Disney Company first had to buy the Wrather Corporation.
Which, in addition to owning that Anaheim resort, also owned all of the rights to The
Lone Ranger. But because Mouse House officials were so eager to recover the $85
million that they’d just spent to acquire Wrather, they quickly turned around and sold off
all of those old television and radio shows to the highest bidder, which is how
Entertainment Rights PLC eventually wound up with control of the Lone Ranger
characters.
And from what I've been hearing, Disney then had to agree to pay this UK-based media
company more than 10 times what the company originally made off of the sale of all of
those old Lone Ranger TV shows and radio broadcasts in order to be able to use these
characters in this new Jerry Bruckheimer film.
And then — when you factor in that this ambitious new Western will probably cost just
as much as “The Curse of the Black Pearl” did to produce (I.E. $120 - $135 million) —
well, Mouse House officials are really hoping that millions of people worldwide will be
willing to part with a little silver in order to see the Lone Ranger and Silver up on the big
screen again.”
Hi-Yo Silver, away!
Bruckheimer to make Lone Ranger
movies for Disney!
I said I wouldn't believe it untill I heard it from the horse's mouth. Well, this appears to
be it. This news comes from MTV News:
"Hi-Ho Silver, away!"
A modern movie hero who doesn't curse, doesn't use slang, who doesn't drink or
smoke or visit saloons, who believes in God and country and a strict moral code, who
only uses guns when he has to, and even then never shoots to kill? The American
West is about to get a dose of reserved cowboy justice, as super producer Jerry
Bruckheimer has confirmed to MTV News that he’s developing a "Lone Ranger" series
of films.
"It's being written, well it's not being written now, but it's about to be written," he said of
the rumored project. "We were just working out the story before the strike and hopefully
that will end soon and we can continue on."
We, in this case, means "Pirates of the Caribbean" writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio.
But don't think that means the titular hero will be anything like Captain Jack, cautions
Bruckheimer, who revealed that the story wouldn't be an update, but instead something
of an origin story. That means adhering to the strict moral code laid down by "Lone
Ranger" creator Fran Striker.
"I wouldn't say it's an updating of the tale, I would say it's kind of getting back to the
roots of the tale," Bruckheimer confessed. "Where it originated from — it's about Texas
Rangers, so we’re going to take it to how the characters are created."
It would be a somewhat fitting next step for Bruckheimer and crew, considering that
fifteen years ago the two genres that were universally acknowledged to be dead were
pirate movies and westerns. When you've conquered one, why not go for the other?
On the future of that first lucrative franchise, meanwhile, Bruckheimer said the ime
isn't yet right to discuss "Pirates 4."
"Not yet, not yet," he said, smiling. "We're still counting the money from the last one!"
Sony is no longer making
Lone Ranger movie
NOTE: Sony's Red Wagon Productions has announced that it is no longer
involved in the Lone Ranger movie project. As far as we know, the movie will
not be made. We will update this page if that changes for any reason.
At this time the script for the movie is in development. No one has been cast for the
parts. A filming date has not been set and there is no date yet for it to reach theaters.
Does anyone have any updated information about this project? If so, please let us
know at lonerangerfanclub@sbcglobal.net.Thanks!
September 2006: This is the latest word about the movie: Jonathan Mostow hasn't
been involved with the project for a while now, so Sub-Mariner doesn't really impact us.
September 2006: It has been reported that Jonathan Mostow is clearing his schedule
to write and direct the new Sub-Mariner movie for Marvel. At this time we don't know
what that means for the Lone Ranger movie. Our best guess is there will be no new
Lone Ranger movie in time for the 75th anniversary in 2008.
March 2006: Classic Media has informed me that the part of Tonto in the new movie
will be played by a man and not a woman, as had been rumored!
February 2006: Lone Ranger "in development"
I spoke with a representative with Red Wagon Productions. They are not releasing any
additional information at this time except to say that it's "in development." I've been
assured we will receive information as it becomes available. Stay tuned!
Movie postponed again, June 2005
We have recently received word that the new Lone Ranger movie has been postponed
to either 2008 to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the radio program or to 2009 for
the 60th anniversary of the television program.
Director, new writer hired, December 2004
The movie now has a director, Jonathan Mostow, who directed Terminator 3 and U-571.
The script is currently being re-written by screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis, who has writing
credits for X-Men, Alexander, Laura Croft: Tomb Raider and Scream 3. Kalogridis also
developed and wrote the television series Birds of Prey for the WB network.
The latest information as of September 2004:
Two years ago it was announced that Columbia Pictures had optioned to do a new
Lone Ranger movie. Since then very little information about it has come to light. We
recently asked Classic Media the status of the movie and were told that it is in “script
development.” Shortly afterward fan club member and noted movie critic Leonard Maltin
posted this update on his Web site (www.leonardmaltin.com): “I’ll have some more Lone
Ranger merchandise news in the weeks ahead, and if all goes well, we’ll be seeing a
new Lone Ranger movie in 2006, courtesy of producer Douglas Wick (Gladiator, Stuart
Little). I would encourage Mr. Wick to watch the WB network’s embarrassing series pilot
for a Ranger series, which aired last year, and make a vow not to repeat their mistakes.”
History prior to the above information
Here is the latest news we have on this project. In 2002, Columbia Pictures optioned to
make a Lone Ranger movie. The husband and wife producing team of Doug Wick and
Lucy Fisher of Sony-based Red Wagon Productions -- the people who produced
Gladiator and Stuart Little -- are heading this project. The buzz at the time is that the
part of Tonto would be played by a woman. That rumor has members of the Lone
Ranger Fan Club and Lone Ranger fans in general outraged.
Last year David Webb Peoples was hired to write the screenplay. He is credited with
such works as the Oscar-winning Unforgiven and Twelve Monkeys.
Obviously there are some top-notch people working on this film. Despite the rumor of
Tonto as a woman, this is shaping up to be a high-caliber production. So far we have
heard nothing about casting, filming or even a potential release date. We will keep you
posted here as things develop. If you have any knowledge about this project, please
don't hesitate to let us know.
Ta-i Kemo Sabe, welcome!
You have reached the home
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Club. Click on the links
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source of information on the
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You have reached the home
of the Lone Ranger Fan
Club. Click on the links
below to explore the best
source of information on the
Web about the Lone Ranger
and Tonto. Be sure to click
on the "Join the Fan Club"
button to learn how to
become a Lone Ranger
Deputy and receive The
Silver Bullet newsletter!
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