Pirates of the Caribbean helmer Gore Verbinski and star Johnny Depp are reuniting for a new Disney feature film adaptation of the vintage radio property The Lone Ranger. Pirates producer Jerry Bruckheimer will oversee the new Lone Ranger film, which will star Johnny Depp, who will portray the masked man’s Indian sidekick Tonto.
The Lone Ranger debuted on radio to the strains of the William Tell Overture and a hearty “Hi-yo, Silver, away!” in 1933 and remained on the air for over 3,000 shows. A 1950s TV series starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels lasted for five seasons. The Masked Man has also been the subject of a number of comic books through the years including a contemporary series from Dynamite (see “Dynamite Lands The Lone Ranger”).
No start date has been announced for production of The Lone Ranger. According to Variety, Disney is still searching for an actor to play the title role, but with the highly successful helmer Verbinski on board it is clear that the studio has got this project on the front burner. Justin Haythe, who wrote the adaptation of Richard Yates’ novel
