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Armie Hammer Confirmed to Join Johnny Depp in 'The Lone Ranger'

by Ethan Anderton
May 17, 2011
Source: Variety

Last month we heard that The Social Network star Armie Hammer was in early talks to join Johnny Depp in Disney's new take on The Lone Ranger, the classic western hero. Landing the role of the masked hero is fortuitous mostly because he was set to play Batman in the early development of a Justice League movie years ago, and now Variety confirms that Hammer will indeed play the titular crime-fighting Texas Ranger with Depp as his sidekick Tonto. Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski will be at the helm of the feature which is slated to start shooting sometime this fall after Depp finishes Tim Burton's Dark Shadows.

The Lone Ranger's origin story begins with a group of Texas Rangers chasing down a gang of outlaws led by Butch Cavendish. The gang ambushes the Rangers, seemingly killing them all. One survivor is found, however, by an American Indian named Tonto (Depp), who nurses him back to health. The Ranger (Hammer), donning a mask and riding a white stallion named Silver, teams up with Tonto to bring the unscrupulous gang and others of that ilk to justice. The script comes from writer Justin Haythe (The Clearing, Revolutionary Road) and Jerry Bruckheimer producing. Casting is solid so far, and there's likely more to come soon, so stay tuned. Sound good so far?

Filed under Casting, Development, Movie News

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