I scoffed when I saw Deadline‘s headline saying “TOLDJA! Verbinski Directing ‘Lone Ranger'”. I thought to myself, Wasn’t this old news? Come to find out Verbinski never had officially signed on to direct The Lone Ranger and it was only his Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp that was confirmed for the film, playing the role of Tonto. But I guess now we can move on as Deadline reports Disney has “just locked in the helmer” to direct the film centering on a lone surviving Texas Ranger who was nursed back to health by the Indian Tonto who rides with him, on Silver and Scout, throughout the West, doing good while living off a silver mine which supplies him with income and bullets.
Not only did Depp and Verbinski work together on the Pirates franchise, but Depp is voicing the lead character in the helmer’s upcoming animated feature Rango for Paramount due in theaters on March 4. While Depp returned to the Pirates franchise for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Verbinski departed and was once expected to direct a Bioshock video game adaptation that ended up falling apart. After that he was attached to Fox’s The Secret Life of Walter Mitty as well as various other projects, none of which seemed to get off the ground.
The Lone Ranger is now looking to be the director’s next project, which would imply Depp’s next turn with Tim Burton in a Dark Shadows adaptation may be delayed should Disney move fast on Lone Ranger.
Now the rumor mill is sure to begin turning as to who will play the title role after George Clooney was earlier rumored to be the one to don the mask. Any suggestions as to who you’d like to see in the part?
