Mike Newell to Direct The Lone Ranger

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Mike Newell to Direct The Lone Ranger

April 30, 2009

Mike Newell is in talks to direct Walt Disney Pictures' The Lone Ranger, reports Production Weekly.

The Lone Ranger's origin story begins with a group of Texas Rangers chasing down a gang of outlaws led by Butch Cavendish. The gang ambushes the Rangers, seemingly killing them all. One survivor is found, however, by an American Indian named Tonto (Johnny Depp), who nurses him back to health. The Ranger, donning a mask and riding a white stallion named Silver, teams up with Tonto to bring the unscrupulous gang and others of that ilk to justice.

Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio wrote the script. Newell directed Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and is helming the upcoming Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

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Posted by: BAWBY on April 30, 2009 at 17:53:27

FIRST!!!!! wOOOhOOOO

Posted by: BAWBY on April 30, 2009 at 17:54:14

This oughta be pretty good, I haven't yet seen a bad Johnny Depp movie.

Posted by: Air Force One on April 30, 2009 at 17:56:53

This should be interesting. They got themselves a director now all I want to know is when the movie will come out. By the way; the article says Johnny Depp is playing the Lone Ranger. Isn't he playing Tonto?

Posted by: jeff on April 30, 2009 at 18:05:05

I thought George Clooney was supposed to be the Ranger?

Posted by: Steve the Dude on April 30, 2009 at 18:23:55

Johnny Depp is Tonto. The Lone Ranger has not been cast yet. Neither has anyone else. Disney/Bruckheimer will sign a director first. Let's see if Mike Newell actually signs on or not.

Posted by: Prodigal 1 on April 30, 2009 at 18:33:31

Johnny Depp?? WTF?!?! Another Hollywood insult to indigenous people. They could have at least used a full blooded Native American. Looks like "Kung Fu" all over again. (For you dumb ****s Bruce Lee who helped create that character was denied the part because he was "too Chinese") They'll probably have the charachter speaking in broken english sounding ignorant just like show. By the way Tonto means fool in Spanish, Italian, and Portugese.

Posted by: Jim Caviezel on April 30, 2009 at 18:33:52

Vote for me to play Lone Ranger.

Posted by: Air Force One on April 30, 2009 at 18:36:04

@ Prodigal 1

News Flash genius! In real life Johnny Depp is part Cherokee. Or something like that. The man has Native American in his blood so he's great for the part of Tonto.

Posted by: Jeff on April 30, 2009 at 18:37:06

Look for Russell Crowe to play the Lone Ranger, even though he's already Robin Hood.

Posted by: Adam M on April 30, 2009 at 18:40:40

sorry, i am as big a johnny depp fan as anyone and so completely not seeing him as Tonto. just...wrong age, wrong look..i dunno, it's not exciting casting. which is a darn shame, would love to see Lone Ranger as a big summer blockbuster. .....eh, see when images start to come out how it shapes up..

Posted by: JSG on April 30, 2009 at 19:02:32

I'm looking forward to Jonah Hex far more than this. We'll see how things pan out.

Posted by: dave on April 30, 2009 at 19:21:06

What the hey...Johnny will bw great as a sidekick. I say go big for the Ranger. I'm thinking Ben Afleck.

Posted by: Doop on April 30, 2009 at 19:22:34

Sounds awesome, I've been craving a new Johnny Depp film. A supporting actor role is always interesting as well.

Posted by: dave on April 30, 2009 at 19:23:45

ooh or Paul Rudd, even bettr, an every man. Thier rifts would be stellar and the action would ne great for his career.

Posted by: Fobby Valentino on April 30, 2009 at 19:28:47

So basically, Johnny Depp is a co-star. After making millions for Disney in the Pirates movies, they've given him this ****. They'd be better off casting him as the Lone Ranger and changing the 'Tonto' character to an asian immigrant brought in to build the railroads and thus teaches him martial arts. Bring in Tony Jaa!!

Posted by: sebastien on April 30, 2009 at 19:42:40

are you guys kiddin i say Chuck norris gonna be the ranger he FTW!!!!

Posted by: warcam on April 30, 2009 at 19:45:07

Cast Christian Bale as The Lone Ranger and call it "Public Kimosabes"

Posted by: Psycho78 on April 30, 2009 at 19:54:10

Depp as an Injun, holy moly....sounds fun.

Posted by: mojojackson on April 30, 2009 at 20:14:15

A update of the Lone Raner could be interesting, but I'm curious how they're going to do it without being racist. I'd have thought they'd have eliminated the Tonto character, whose very name has become a slur, but keeping the character and then casting white man to play him seems an attempt to paint themselves into a corner.

Ah, well. Maybe if they put Megan Fox in it, the horndogs won't notice the stereotypes. Hell, it worked with Transformers.

Posted by: WTF on April 30, 2009 at 20:43:05

I like Johnny Depp, but how'bout using a real American Indian to play Tonto?!?! I'm not one to start a ****storm, but Tonto needs to be NATIVE...not just to be PC but also to make the character credible.

Posted by: mojojackson on April 30, 2009 at 21:27:21

On second thought, I can see how it could be difficult to find a Native actor willing to play a character that was racist in its conception.

I guess it doesn't realy matter either way what ethnicity the actor is, as long as the portrayal isn't disrespectful. I mean, the nature of acting is pretending to be something you're not. Many actors have played other ethnicities beleiveably. I've seen Antonio Banderas (who's Spanish) play a Frenchman, a Mexican and a Cuban. I don't even know if I've seen him play a Spaniard. Cliff Curtis, who is Maori, played an Iraqi in Three Kings and a Chicano in Training Day, both well.

I just don't know how they're going to get around the name.

Posted by: Johnny Depp on April 30, 2009 at 22:14:30

Let's get one thing straight. I am part Native American. This is true. Yet since you sour pusses are so critical about me playing Tonto; not only will I drop out of this movie but I will not return for a Pirates of the Caribbean 4.

Posted by: Robie on April 30, 2009 at 22:32:00

Johny Depp is part native american. And for anyone saying he is not the right look, take a look at Fear and Loathing. He is capable of changing his looks for a movie or part.
Bring it on! This sounds awesome.

Posted by: ray on April 30, 2009 at 22:48:17

i have never seen a depp movie...is he good...oh wait, he is in everything

Posted by: cannibalferoxy87 on April 30, 2009 at 22:58:01

I'll have to see a trailer to fully appreciate this idea. I do love Depp's films, lets see where this takes us.

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