August 15th, 2011
05:35 PM ET
Disney halts production on Depp’s ‘Lone Ranger’A retelling of the classic western "The Lone Ranger" was supposed to start filming this fall, but Disney has pulled the plug on the anticipated Johnny Depp project. A Disney rep tells CNN, “Yes, that production ['The Lone Ranger'] has been shut down and everyone involved in the production is meeting to figure out next steps.” According to the Hollywood Reporter, budget clashes between Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski are what brought the project down.
Verbinski – who directed the first three "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies - reportedly balked at the budget laid out by the studio, demanding more money to make the movie. "The Lone Ranger" was a potential franchise-starter, with Armie Hammer lined up as the Lone Ranger and Depp slated to play Tonto, his Native American sidekick. It was scheduled to be released in December 2012.
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"The Long Ranger"? Sounds like an adult film I made about 10 years ago. Great proofreading, CNN!
Johnny Depp is a good actor who takes his work and does it well, he does not have Charlie Sheen Syndrome so why pull the plug on some one who has made you money and knows what he's doing. Wake up Disney
a MUCH better actor to portray Tonto might be LEWIS BLACK, it would keep with a decades old tradition of casting Jews as asian immigrants (it's where they came from, back in the day, after all, the injuns, not the Jews). With Lewis you get ad libbed comedy and he has the face for tonto, expecially when he becomes irritated/excited about things. Depp could play a pirate that gets marrooned in the west, call it "Pirates of the Carribean VS the Lone Ranger", with a sequel called "The Alien Predator VS the Pittsburg Pirates in a Double Header " The combinations would be endless.
Come on, Hollywood! Come up with something ORIGINAL for once. You've done enough boring remakes already.
LOL.
Depp as Tonto.
Someone's been hitting the cocaine too hard in Hollywood.
Disney simply wants to force Depp into doing another POTC sequel as soon as possible. How much money will it take to twist that poor pirate's arm?
Too bad... That would have went to Netflix instant view really quick.
You want to turn this concept into a good movie? Get rid of the tired Bruckheimer production crew, give the script-writing over to Ethan Coen, and let Joel direct it. Though they're probably bored with westerns after "Grit."
I must be stupid. I thought it was the Lone Ranger, not Long Ranger.
So is it going to be called "The Lone Ranger" or "The Long Ranger." This article leaves me confused.
I didn't know Tonto was gay.
Aw, come on, Dizzney... puke up some 'o that easy-earned Depp scratch to make this flick, will ya? OH, wait just a sec! These are the same corporate black suits that axed one of the greatest shows EVER from the studio... KIM POSSIBLE! Ok, makes a little more sense to me now. Me and about a MILLION other fans of KP been bangin' on their door for more quality animation for over 4 years, and still NOTHING! Yeah, Phineas and Ferb worked out swell so far, but as for anything else, we get the BRICK WALL!!!
This was going to be an awful movie anyway. Apparently, it would make the Lone Ranger dumber than a box of rocks, and Tonto would be the real brains of the duo. I thought we were over the 60's.
The "Long" Ranger? seriously? who the hell writes this stuff? some of the internet "journalists" on this site are about as qualified as a chimpanzee.
Uhh, for the 85th time, Depp *is* more than a little Native American....not full-blooded, but not like 1/16 either...
Well, for a budget over 200 million, it seems very excessive. How much digital effects would be in this movie? JD would brjng origionality to the Lone Ranger. I think it would do well...but not 700 mill or more like one post said. Sounds like the budget needs to be cut. Remember Waterworld????
All my friends agree, w'd go see the "Loan Arranger."
Depp as Tonto? Ugh. This has the same potential for disaster that once saw John Wayne playing Genghis Kahn. Why not use an authentic native American? John Wayne was a huge box office pull, but he failed miserably at pretending to be something that he obviously wasn't.
I think Depp wanted to do it because it makes Tonto the star and the Lone Ranger the idiot sidekick.
"Tonto, it looks like we're done for." As their position becomes more tenuous as indians ride around them, shooting and shouting war cries.
"What you mean "we" Kemosabe.
Actually, the last line of that joke goes "What you mean WE, white man?" ***rim shot*** If yer gonna tell an ancient joke, at least get it right? And TAKE MY WIFE... PLEASE!
We could notify CNN that they can't spell or we could go on laughing at them all night long. I know not what choice others may make, but I'm gonna laff.
Really, a white guy playing a Native American??? I love Depp, but don't cast him as something he's not.
Hey I've got a brilliant idea for Disney: BE ORIGINAL. Have you ever noticed that most of their movies are either based on children's books (Tarzan, Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid) or remakes (Freaky Friday with Jamie Lee Curtis)? I doubt kids these days really care to see Johnny Depp as Tonto in a remake of a 60s western tv show.
There has never been a decent, high budget Lone Ranger film. And this one is on its way to be as lousy as the last one that starred that moron, Klinton Spillsbury. In this film, Tonto is the leader and the Lone Ranger is the clueless sidekick. That's why Depp wanted to do it. It's too bad. It would be nice to have a decent Western movie come out. The last decent one was "Unforgiven".
LONG Ranger? Sheesh!
Headed
All of you guys that are white let me ask you this ,you say people especially Native Americans(full blooded ones) should have no problem with a white guy playing one.Okay then you have no problem with say Will Smith playing Rhett Butler(sorry not sure about the spelling)opposite Katy Perry as Scarlett O'hara think about were you're head with this.
I wonder if "Cowboys & Aliens" flopping at the box office had anything to do with Disney's decision? If kids won't go see a Western with aliens in it, they certainly won't go see a Western without any, right?!
If Disney cant give them what they want, take it elsewhere! SInce when has Depp NOT made buckets of money? greedy sobs.
A little disappointing, but as long as Dark Shadows is still a go, I'm fine. Johnny Depp playing a vampire? Yes, please!!!
Shooting to begin next year in Anaheim. Johnny as the Lone Ranger with one scene sporting a white cashmere sweater.
Vin Diesel as Tonto. Lady Gaga as Silver. Direction by Ed Wood.
Interesting to note how few posts have a problem with a white guy playing a native american instead of a native american. We're going backwards people.
I suppose you've been reading the other posts, but in case you haven't – Johnny Depp is Cherokee. I forget what percentage, but it's fairly large – like a grandmother or something was native American.
Jpw 201O I'm sure they won't shove any blacks down you throat (ahh ha)because they hadn't even been created back then.
Created? You meant imported instead, right?
Umm ... it's "Lone Ranger," not "Long Ranger"
At least we may be spared the ad nauseam discussions about a white guy playing a Native American.
Depp, by a landslide, is one of the best actors of our generation. Not only a brilliant actor but a wonderful person.
The Lone Ranger seems a bit dull to me......but I know Depp has a way of making something dull, seem oddly intersting and fun. Will be interesting if the pix flys.
How much money do you need to make a western? Of course, if this movie does get made, I wonder how many token black characters they will shove down our throats.
The Long Ranger is only a stage name. Depp will actually play "Pronto", the Long Ranger's sidekick, aka Two Minute Man as they journey on a quest for Jenna Jameson.
So he would have tried to take over the movie as Tonto they way he took over Alice? What I want to know is, what the H do you need that much money to shoot a Western?
Because they were planning to shoot it at the Spahn Movie Ranch, and Charlie Manson wants a FORTUNE to let 'em do it!
Aww...that movie actually sounded good....
Armie Hammer? Well, he ain't no Clinton Spillsbury. But I guess he'll do.
Now that Spanish language is more known in our country, it is nice to know that TONTO means stupid or fool in Spanish.
thank G-D! I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOtired of this guy's routine!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you masked man? i like that, i want to hear a thank you maksed man everyday! so when im old i will look on my thank you maksed man book, See i wasnt always an actor, thank you maksed man!!!
Lenny Bruce
Why couldnt they get a native american to play the native american?
depp is a BFD give em what he wants
Ok. To all you whiney butts, just say what ur going to say and ignore the crack crowd! Johnny Depp for the Lone Ranger, Adam Beach for Tonto and Steven Soderberg to direct and of course keep Spielberg. Soderberg does wonders with low budgets. @BV share the rain Im begging you!
good news !!! another dumb remake bites the dust.start making some intelligent new films instead of more and more remakes.
i watched lone ranger weekly as a child in the late 50's – early 60's.
might do the kids good to see the original black and white lone ranger serials or TV show.
Copy editors, please, notice the use of "Long" instead of "Lone".
This was for the best, Lone Ranger remakes have been failures. There are some stories that should not be remade.
Well, this is probably for the best since it would have been seriously dumbed down and made so politically correct that it would have been a shadow of even the hokey original TV & radio shows. We'd have seen something between Rango and Hank Hill on a perfectly groomed horse with everybody calling them Native Americans...even though that term wasn't invented in the timeframe the series would be set within. Look...if they can start to PC Huck Finn by calling Injun Joe something other than that, then this is going to end up the same way. I'll pass.
I seldom go to the theater. I prefer to wait for the video release but this is one movie that I've heard rumors about for the last few years and have anxiously been waiting for more info and the chance to see it on the big screen! Guess I'll have to wait a while longer
I'm a local filmmaker in New Mexico, and make most of my living by working on the larger studio projects that come here to shoot. THE LONE RANGER, to be at least partially filmed in NM, would have brought thousands of jobs and millions of dollars to our state. Although there are many budgetary reasons this project was put on hold, including huge above-the-line costs (see link below), another factor not being acknowledged is that NM is losing its film incentives. The new NM Governor's restrictions that specifically cut big studio movie incentives went into effect last month, and what do you know! The two big movies already filming here (ODD THOMAS and THE AVENGERS) now may not even get their full rebates as promised when they began filming, and THE LONE RANGER suddenly puts on the breaks as well. Again, THE LONE RANGER has many budgetary issues to work out, but suddenly having the cost-saving incentives of their New Mexico shooting location disappear is certainly one of them. We all hope that this project pulls through and gets back on track – and that if and when it does, it will still choose to bring its significant jobs and resources to New Mexico.
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/so_how_come_the_lone_ranger_was_going_to_cost_250_million_five_reasons_disn/
Well....no filming in NM....maybe they'll go back to Italy and re-invent the spaghetti westerns.
Fck NM. They're famous for their shady deals and the movie industry loves that environment. The're filming their as$es off there but from what I hear, the indies are taking over.
Remember Bruckheimer's blockbuster in summer 2001?
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/an-opportunity/
It was pulled because CNN kept calling it "The Long Ranger", which is the unrated version... ha ha. Wow, whoever wrote this is a moron.
@Hell No you'll need a massage after the sore throat I can give.
Sure you will tonto!
Wow, this has been up since yesterday - and it still has huge glaring typos.
Maybe Depp wanted to start in "The Long Ranger" thinking it was x-rated....and backed out when he learned it was just another stupid remake of an ancient TV series.
Tonto? Really? I figured he'd play the Lone Ranger. They honestly couldn't be bothered to cast an Indian to play the Indian?
I look forward to the remake of "Roots", staring Adam Sandler, David Spade, and Lindsay Lohan.
Hey Lindsey Hunter Lopez! YOU LEFT OUT the part about the budget being inflated because the filmmakers were trying to include WEREWOLVES in this version of The Lone Ranger!
"It was going to be a Tonto show mainly. Tonto as the top dog and more dominant than the Lone Ranger [played by THE SOCIAL NETWORK'S Armie Hammer]. Tonto and the Indian spirits like Obi Wan Kenobi and the force. The driving engine was going to be Native American occult aspects worked in with werewolves and special effects. But flavored with doses of Native American spirituality in a serious way."
http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/disney-pulls-the-plug-on-gore-verbinskis-the-lone-ranger
http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/21495/werewolves-blow-out-ranger-budget
Next time – don't trim the story – give the readers the full story. Be glad they killed the movie – they were going to ruin The Lone Ranger!!!
The bigger question here is how is Depp going to play second fiddle to an actor like Armie Hammer?
I know it's called acting nowadays any actor or actress could play as any person they want. People still go to the movies to watch this films.
@Annie in Texas you know that you can see anything that you want old shows,on TV Land and other channels.
90 percent of movies released by studios these days are pure crap and makes you wonder who is green lighting these projects. There is very little creativity left these days. So I agree with the studios. shut down the project before wasting millions of dollars on stupid pet projects of writers and directors with no talent
With his faithful Indian companion, Tonto, the daring and resourceful masked rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early West. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. The Lone Ranger rides again!
I couldn't wait for those words because I knew I was gonna watch the Lone Ranger and Tonto. I loved the way he used to disguise himself...kinda like Zorro with and without mask...and nobody would know who he was. But best of all I loved the way he and Silver ended the show by rearing up and waving goodby...ahhhh...memories
I know I will get hate for this, but to be honest all but the first Pirates movies really were terrible so new budget and new director would be nice for this project.
Gore can go F himself!, spoiled brat.
Didn't have enough money in the budget for CGI?
I'm a filmmaker, with legit credits, give me the film, I won't walk out..:)
Who edits this stuff? "The Long Ranger" – there's no telling what this idiot gets paid and a fifth grader could probably do better!
The editors are the ones who edit this stuff.
Uhh...The "Long" Ranger??? I can see them making the mistake once. But it says The Long Ranger twice in this story...
WoW Disney you realized you were in the 21st century and NOT going to place another white guy to play a NATIVE AMERICAN...
Hollywood has been coming up with some pretty crappy fare lately. The bean-counters really ought not discourage the few creative and talented people still among them. Depp would be a kickass Tonto. And Verbinski? Just give him the damn money, you brain-dead tightwads.
No, not Lone Ranger please don't shut it down.
Why is it always the rum.
This report doesn't really say anything. Why was it stopped? What happened? Will they continue? If they do, any speculations on who will be in the movie – are there actor changes?
Why did I waste my time reading this article – even more, why did I waste my time writing this?
I believe it does something about budgets clashing. You wasted your time cause life sucks.
I believe it did it was something about budgets clashing. I saw that and I am only 7 years old!
I could watch Johnny Depp knit a sweater...mmmmmmhhmmmmm...
Personally I'm happy about it. About time cost of these movies are reigned in. I personally refuse to pay $10 to go see a movie and a hundred bucks for cable TV. I've cancelled my cable and will wait until I can get movies for a $1 at Redbox before I see them.
At least when a Hollywood actor acts like a drug addicted spoiled kid, it won't be my money sponsoring his lifestyle.
Verbinski – why don't you find your inner artist and remember what it's like to shoot 'gorilla'. Surely you can come up with creative and effective ways to push your vision with the resources you have. Does it have to be so processed? I'm sure the budget is large enough. The world is in an economic crisis. See the big picture before complaining about the small screen. Disgusting.
I hear ur man. it used to be fun comin on here n reading the comments but not lately. this c crack n his peeps kinda makin it no fun. it mostly crack. he is on here all day n even on w-end. one wonders if he has a life outside marquee blog. not being an a*z mr crack but give us a break no body cares we r here to laugh
I am on crack. Does anyone want to join me so we could ruin our lifes together?
@Who gives a d*mn: why are you so uptight so early in the morning? It's just comments on blogs. relax.. I think you need to go an get yourself a massage after you get out of work today. Have a nice day
I think he needs more than a massage if you know what I mean jellybean!
Anyone who posts as "beautiful vixen"-- ain't!
Oops correction.. sun** in my insult..lol
@Alecia: Good morning. Well it's still raining here and to top it off it's a bit cold. Doesn't feel like summer. Have a great day. How that's weather report for you? Lol
Hey old biddies who's that your nine year old great grand nephew?He needs to be directed to that little school bus on that prairie road about now right don't you think? But if I were 'y'all' I wouldn't let him play on the computer unsuprpervised.
@who gives a d*mn- How about you leave em' alone. I can direct you to facebook if you'd like? Yep, ok, don't move, hold your head right there, ok up a lil' bit. Now wait a second i've got this dictionary riiight here.....(smack)....There. Facebook.....sucka!
This made my morning
@Booo i'm with you,Johnny Depp's grandmother was black so is he going to want to play Othello? I think not.
LOL! Actually, I think he'd make a terrific Othello! I think their problem is that they don't want to blow that much money until they see whether the world is going to end before premier night.
I am the original LONG Ranger. 12 inches, dude.
Sure you are tonto!
I thought that was Silver?
I am sure Silver appreciates that during your nightly romps.
I'd rather see a real native American actor play tonto. And I don't care to hear that depp has some small percentage of NA blood, If he does.
I don't care that you don't care.
So, THERE!
In this day and age they are stil want to use a white man to play an indian...typical
Get your facts straight, people. Johnny Depp IS Native American, as Native American as Obama is black. Get off the "racial" high horse.
He's native american enough to live on the Cherokee reservation. If we (native americans) can accept him, why can't you?
Actually, he has quite a high percentage of Cherokee – I think he'd be perfect. Too bad Disney pulled the plug – I was looking forward to it!
Being a 'native' american would make one an italian (America comes from Vaspucci Amerigo, Italian explorer of the 'new world) Maybe ASIAN IMMIGRANT would be better, since that's where they came from.
Well, since they were here at least SEVERAL THOUSAND years before Amerigo, I would say sir, that you are not a good source of anthropological information. Read a book. Have a great day.
Hi Peace! Hi BV! Yes ma'am Im in dry parched Texas where we are now wishing for a direct hit from a category 5 hurricane! Thats sad isnt it? Oh well. Guess well see what happens! Night all!
I'd like to see him as Jesse James / I Loved Tyrone Powers in the 1930 version !
Hi also Alecia. I'm getting a lot of rain by me, wish I could send some of it your way. I hope I'm correct thinking you are in Texas. @Peace: I also would love to see J. Depp in this too. D@mn Hollywood. Night all..heading off to bed, I'm so beat.
Wassamatta U? Too cheap to get a Twitter account?
I also think Portalpunk is funny and Happy Cow. @ Hi Peace
All right, I admit that portalpunk made me laugh. He's good at rhyming
I hope they figure it all out, I was kinda looking forward to Depp playing Tonto! @ Portalpunk, Loved the song! Good eve to all of ya!
"The Long Ranger" yet again I'm incredibly impressed with the quality of editing
That being said, i think depp would've carried the project (as usual) – probably like Pirates, the first would've been the best and the sequels' quality would decrease exponentially with each movie
I figure most of the people working for this site are too young to even know who the Lone Ranger was... let alone how to spell.
I know, right!!!!
The Long Ranger was the adult version of the film
Yeah I know! @hahahah Looks like some one is lonely.
Agreed. You would think the would correct that before it went to press. Then again, the editor might not be old enough to know the difference??? Ironically, they did get it right once in the article.
Portalpunk makes us laugh, too
moooooo
Ah1 A reasonable voice amid the insanity. Mooooooooooooo!
Aw, come on @juju, @portal isnt a putz! Admit it he makes you laugh! @Lori I agree! Its not like Spielberg/Depp WONT make money, seems thats all they know how to do!
Come on Disney... quit being cheap. Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp have made you a LOT of money with those Pirates movies. Hand over the money!
no kidding... if you want good acting, you'll have to pay for it. sheesh.
Was thinking the same. When has a Depp film not made bucketloads of cash?
The budget for this movie was $232 mil. For two guys and a horse. What were they doing? Fighting aliens? Then the release date had it set to come out against the first Hobbit movie. No way would it have made its money back. I'm not sure what they were thinking. At least someone pulled the plug on this before it went any further. The actors and the idea of a Lone Ranger movie are fine, just knock about $100-150 mil off the price tag. That's the price of a whole other movie for pete's sake. I think they'll regroup and come out with a plan B eventually.
Depp seems to cater to the kids, and the kid in me! I was so looking forward to the Lone Ranger. How greedy can people be? The only films that are making REAL money are movies for kids.! They go over and over ad enjoy them as much as the first time. Second are remakes of old good movies, ex: TRUE GRIT!
too expensive, "Two guys and a horse" ONLY? Wow! THAT will be a boring movie!
No sets, no effects, no other actors and actresses. Just two guys and a horse to tell a story.
Couldn't even do the ORIGIN of the Lone Ranger with two guys and a horse.
But, quite indicative of our current entertainment, low budget, low brow, zero creativity.
Except Cowboys and Aliens, which was simply absurd.
@Lori: Disney isn't being "cheap", they're running a business, and no matter how much Depp/Verbinski has made for them the simple math is if the film is going to cost $250 million to make, its going to cost another $100 – $150 million to market. Since studios share roughly half the ticket price with the theaters Lone Ranger would have to make over $700 million JUST TO BREAK EVEN
Yes, the Pirates movies accomplished that, but for a cowboy movie to cost that much & have to go against the Hobbit to make their money back is just too large a bet. It's simply fiscally irresponsible to make a cowboy movie for that kind of bread.
PS – Depp's Public Enemies failed miserably at the box office, as did the film he was recently in with Angelina Jolie, so he's not exactly B.O. magic.
@nobody the 250mil includes the marketing budget.
Maybe Disney wants to rewrite the script to incorporate aliens into the plot. Or maybe even Bambi or Snow White
Wzrd1 – That would be two guys and TWO horses! C'mon, get with it.
Hi Ho Silver !
where's that putz with his Firsties!
I can’t get them all, that's what makes it fun, along with making the occasional rhyme.
I can't be FIRSTY all the time, somedays just get out of line
I be busy making the money mack, or taking a break drinking some jack
But when I'm FIRSTY I am awesome, which is cool as being a possum
Hey Depp. How about something along the lines of "The Ninth Gate" or "Blow" and forget this kiddieManure.
You're right, quite the putz.
I wonder if your a$$ is good enough to kiss!
Moron!
This isn't about your mother.
No need for harsh words! I was just replying to the post of beautiful vixen. She is the one that said you need the massage and I disagreed I think you need more than that. When you say massage this by that do you mean your a$$?