After a rough pre-production period, filming is finally underway on Oscar-winner Gore Verbinski's adaptation of The Lone Ranger. More importantly, Disney has released the first synopsis for the movie. It's not big on details, but the gist is that Tonto (Johnny Depp) talks about how he teamed up with John Reid (aka the Lone Ranger; played by Armie Hammer) and how they bonded during their adventures. It's an origin story/buddy movie, and that seems like a fine approach to the material. The devil is in the details, but we shouldn't expect on hearing those for quite some time.Hit the jump for the press release which includes the full text of the synopsis. The film also stars Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson, and Helena Bonham Carter. The Lone Ranger opens May 31, 2013.Here's the press release:
DISNEY AND JERRY BRUCKHEIMER FILMS' EPIC ADVENTURE "THE LONE RANGER" BEGINS PRODUCTION
Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer and International Cast Star in Thrilling Reinvention of Classic Tale Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Directed by Gore Verbinski
BURBANK, Calif. (February 28, 2012) â Production has commenced on location in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado on Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Filmsâ epic adventure âThe Lone Ranger.â The film reunites the filmmaking team of the first three âPirates of the Caribbeanâ blockbustersâproducer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinskiâwith Johnny Depp, who created Captain Jack Sparrow in his iconic, Academy Award®-nominated performance and contributed the voice of the title character of Verbinskiâs Academy Award-winning âRango.â
Depp plays spirit warrior Tonto in âThe Lone Ranger,â with Armie Hammer (âThe Social Network,â âJ. Edgarâ) starring in the title role. Depp and Hammer are joined by a prestigious international cast which includes Tom Wilkinson, two-time Academy Award nominee (âMichael Clayton,â âIn the Bedroomâ) and Golden Globe® and Emmy® winner (âJohn Adamsâ); William Fichtner (Jerry Bruckheimerâs productions of âArmageddon,â âPearl Harborâ and âBlack Hawk Downâ); Emmy Award-winner Barry Pepper (TVâs âThe Kennedys,â âTrue Grit,â âSaving Private Ryanâ); James Badge Dale (âThe Grey,â TVâs âThe Pacificâ and âRubiconâ); Ruth Wilson (televisionâs âJane Eyreâ and âLutherâ); and two-time Academy Award nominee and six-time Golden Globe nominee Helena Bonham Carter (âThe Kingâs Speech,â âAlice in Wonderlandâ). The film is slated to open on May 31, 2013.
âThe Lone Rangerâ is a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justiceâtaking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.
âThe Lone Rangerâ is written by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio of âPirates of the Caribbean,â Eric Aronson and Justin Haythe. The executive producers are Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Eric Ellenbogen and Eric McLeod.
Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski are joined by a remarkable team of behind-the-scenes artists, including director of photography Bojan Bazelli (Verbinskiâs âThe Ring,â âMr. and Mrs. Smithâ); visual consultant Mark âCrashâ McCreery (production designer of Verbinskiâs âRango); costume designer Penny Rose (âPirates of the Caribbeanâ films); film editor James Haygood (âPanic Room,â âFight Clubâ); visual effects supervisor Tim Alexander (âRango,â three âHarry Potterâ films); Academy Award®-winning special effects supervisor John Frazier, a 10-time nominee whose previous collaborations with Jerry Bruckheimer have included âArmageddon,â âPearl Harborâ and, with Verbinski as well, âPirates of the Caribbean: At Worldâs Endâ; and stunt coordinator Tommy Harper (âIron Man,â âIron Man 2â).
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Gore Verbinski has enjoyed tremendous box office success as the innovative director of both character-driven franchises and thoughtful genre-bending fare. Most recently, Verbinski released his first animated film, the smash hit âRango,â starring Johnny Depp. Grossing over $240 million worldwide, the film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as BAFTA and Annie awards, and received Golden Globe® and PGA nominations. Verbinski previously helmed the hit franchise âPirates of the Caribbean,â directing the first three films starring Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley. The films have collectively grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide since release. He made his directorial debut with âMouse Hunt,â starring Nathan Lane, followed by the road movie âThe Mexican,â starring Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini. He also directed the smash horror film âThe Ring,â starring Naomi Watts.
Verbinski is also a successful award-winning commercial director, having been honored with four Clio Awards and a Cannes Silver Lion Award for his work on an assortment of memorable advertising spots. In addition, he directed music videos for bands including Bad Religion and Crystal Method.
First in partnership with Don Simpson, and then as the chief of Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Bruckheimer has produced an unprecedented string of worldwide smashes, impacting not only the industry, but mass culture as well. Bruckheimerâs films include (producing with Don Simpson) âTop Gun,â âBeverly Hills Cop,â âBeverly Hills Cop 2,â âAmerican Gigolo,â âFlashdance,â âBad Boys,â âDangerous Minds,â âCrimson Tide,â âThe Rock,â and (producing solo) âCon Air,â âArmageddon,â âEnemy of the State,â âGone in 60 Seconds,â âCoyote Ugly,â âRemember the Titans,â âPearl Harbor,â âBlack Hawk Down,â âPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,â âBad Boys II,â âVeronica Guerin,â âKing Arthur,â âNational Treasure,â âPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Manâs Chest,â âPirates of the Caribbean: At Worldâs End,â âNational Treasure: Book of Secretsâ and the 2011 blockbuster âPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.â
On television, Bruckheimer had an unprecedented 10 television series airing in the 2005-6 season, a record in the medium for an individual producer. JBTVâs series include âC.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigationâ and its spinoffs âC.S.I.: Miami,â âC.S.I.: NYâ and âWithout a Trace,â âCold Caseâ and the eight-time Emmy® Award-winner âThe Amazing Race.â
Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Television have been honored with 41 Academy Award® nominations, six wins, eight GRAMMY® Award nominations, five wins, 23 Golden Globe® nominations, four wins, 105 Emmy® Award nominations, 21 wins, 30 Peopleâs Choice nominations, 15 wins, numerous MTV Awards, including one for Best Picture of the Decade for âBeverly Hills Cop.â
âThe Lone Rangerâ will film exteriors and studio work in New Mexico, followed by locations in Arizona, Utah and Colorado.