With Pirates of Caribbean director Gore Verbinksi officially attached to direct the big screen version of The Lone Ranger, it’s no surprise attention is now focused on who will play the titular hero himself. The newest names to hit the pot come from none other than Tonto himself — or star Johnny Depp:
“There’s so many interesting possibilities out there. Brad [Pitt] would be great. [George] Clooney would be great. Don’t know who it’s going to be just yet.”
Depp is currently filming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides with director Rob Marshall for a May 20, 2011 release. Pitt has a slew of upcoming films including the long-awaited Tree of Life from director Terrence Malick, which opens on May 27, 2011. The Lone Ranger is set for a 2012 release. Hit the jump for more.
The suggestion makes sense as Depp would likely have bumped into Pitt while filming The Tourist with the Inglourious Basterds’ wife Angelina Jolie – he would know better than anyone whether Pitt’s acting sensibilities would play off his own. Still, while Depp may have quite a bit of pull in Hollywood, the decision will likely rest in the hands of Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
I remain cautiously optimistic about The Lone Ranger, especially considering its long-delayed pre-production process. It took nearly three years for Verbinski to officially climb on board, even after the inclusion of box office behemoth Johnny Depp. Personally I wish Verbinski had taken the directing gig on the big screen adaptation of the video game BioShock (though Juan Carlos Fresnadillo remains a solid choice), something that more soundly fits his directing abilities.
Still, this latest rumor suggests a rather unique take on the legendary series, especially in regards to its depictions of Native Americans. Depp explains to Entertainment Tonight:
“Native Americans in cinema, over the past however many decades, have been treated somewhat shabbily. This one has plans to rectify that.”
Hmmm … the whimsical (even comedic) tone of Pirates meshed with the down-to-earth realism of Dance with Wolves? Starring Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp? I’d pay to watch that.
Here’s a synopsis of the TV show:
The title character is a masked Texas Ranger in the American Old West, originally played by George Seaton (radio), but more famously by Clayton Moore (television), who gallops about righting injustices with the aid of his clever, laconic Native American companion, Tonto played by (amongst others) John Todd, Roland Parker, and (in the television series) Jay Silverheels. Tonto usually referred to the Lone Ranger as Kemo Sabe, meaning “trusty scout”. Departing on his white horse Silver, the Ranger would shout “Hi-yo, Silver, away!” as the horse galloped toward the setting sun, followed by someone asking “Who was that masked man, anyway?” “Why he’s the Lone Ranger.” [Wikipedia]
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“Native Americans in cinema, over the past however many decades, have been treated somewhat shabbily. This one has plans to rectify that.”
“Native Americans in cinema, over the past however many decades, have been treated somewhat shabbily. This one has plans to rectify that.”
This is nonsense. Granted, in the early-to-mid part of the 20th Century, Native Americans did get short shrift in their depictions. However, there have been a number of films and television shows that depict Native Americans in an extemely positive light, giving weight to their concerns e.g. Dances With Wolves, Thunderheart, Geronimo, The Last of the Mohicans, In the West. Even, in Deadwood (which does not have a strong focus on Native Americans at all), the Native Americans are shown to be innocent of some of the crimes assigned to them by white hypocrites. But every so often a director or actor comes along and informs us that their new production will “fix” the mistakes of the past (see any of Kevin Costner’s inteviews regarding Wolves). I am not the first person to complain about this – Pauline Kael made the same arguments about Costner – but I honestly cannot remember another film – except for on Howard’s ludicrous The Missing (which wants a conventional Native American bad-guy – a nasty, bloodthirsty psycho in the form of Eric Scheig’s supernatural villain – but also wants to suggest a more sensitive depiction of Native Americans in the form of Tommy Lee Jones’ settler-turned-Apache) – that did not intelligently respect the Native American people.
so he plans on rectifying it by being a white man playing tonto?
He is part-Native American
Yes, part. His mothers grandfather was Cherokee (according to Depp). Thats a far stretch from being Native American.
My great great grandmother was Chumash, I’m 6’3 red hair white boy with freckles, I bet you I represent indians better than Depp!
It’s a no win situation. Unless you have the approval of the ENTIRE Navtive
American Nation. Someone will bitch. The producers will never win this one. Just make a good movie anyway.
What is this, Lone Ranger and Tonto:The Golden Years?Depp, Clooney and Pitt are almost 50.They have no business playing these characters.
While Depp is a great actor, it’s laughable to think he could pull off a stoic warrior-type character like Tonto.I’m thinking they’re going to adapt him to Depp.Which is bad.Make him some kind of weird Shaman-like Tonto.
Are you serious?
Clooney is Perfect for the role!
Depp will pull off Tonto too, he was great in Dead Man.
Pit would be a worthy Villain.
Only if they put nipples on the Lone Ranger shirt….
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Clooney would be better than Pitt for this one–Jon Hamm could be pretty funny. Sean Penn as the most emotional Lone Ranger ever would be good too.
http://www.youscreeniscreen.com
Clooney would be better than Pitt for this one–Jon Hamm could be pretty funny. Sean Penn as the most emotional Lone Ranger ever would be good too.
http://www.youscreeniscreen.com
deep had already been native american in other film, course he can do it, i would like to see him playing a tonto more tuff than he usually do it
I would go for Clooney for this one. I just seem to be able to picture him more so than Pitt.
Who’s hotter Brad Pitt or George Clooney?! Quick you have 5 seconds to answer……well we all know who Clarkish likes hehehe
I just hope they do a better job with this version than they did with Klinton Spillsbury [SP?]. Of course, the main resentment against that was them forcing Clayton Moore to remove the mask.
The funny thing here is that Kevin Smith and Ralph what’s-his-name suggested those two EXACT names on their show 2 months ago when the Tonto news first broke. Depp must listen to their show! Doh!
No one should listen to that show its lame like all his movies.
A new Lone Ranger movie would be really neat to see. Brad Pitt and George Clooney would both fit the role. Thank you for posting.
Depp and Clooney? Geriatric Lone Ranger and Tonto. Depp has said the script is funny. Guess this is going to be another horribley cast film like The Green Hornet. Played for laughs and an insult to the fans. I’ve also read it’s politically correct with Tonto being the real hero (ala ‘Legend of the Lone ranger’ ala the current kato in ‘Green Hornet’). Hollywood just keeps getting worse. Next up, Mini-Me as Superman!