The Lone Ranger (2013)

Overview

The Lone Ranger is a 2013 big budget adaptation of The Lone Ranger and Tonto. The film is the most expensive Western ever made and the first Live-Action Western to be produced by Disney since 1957's Old Yeller.

Official Synopsis

"The Lone Ranger 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 justice—taking 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".

Creation

Clayton Moore as The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger is a character originally appearing on Radio, first beginning in 1933. The program became popular enough to inspire a spin-off series titled The Green Hornet. The Green Hornet was in reality Britt Reid, a descendant of The Lone Ranger John Reid. The character then appeared in two film serials, one of which was almost considered lost until 2009 when a full English print was discovered. With the advent of television, The Lone Ranger then became a landmark television show beginning in 1949 and ending in 1957. Clayton Moore's name has become synonymous with the character and is fondly remembered by members of that generation who grew up watching him. In 1961, CBS made a pilot film intended to revive the series but the show never made it past the pilot film stage.

The Lone Ranger was also the subject of an animated TV show from 1966-1968. In 1981, The Legend of The Lone Ranger was released in theaters. The film was intended to revive the franchise but due it not making it's budget back and Clayton Moore not being allowed to play the character caused further outrage.In 2003 The WB Network aired a two hour long television movie with Chad Michael Murray as The Lone Ranger. It was intended to reinvent and reintroduce The Lone Ranger modern audiences but was negatively received and a show was never made. Currently The Lone Ranger is the subject of a comic book series published by Dynamite Entertainment.

Production

Pre-Production/Development

In 2002, Columbia announced their intentions to make a feature film based on The Lone Ranger. Signed on to the project were husband & wife producers Douglas Wick & Lucy Fisher. The tone of the film was going to match The Mask of Zorro and Columbia suggested Tonto, the Lone Ranger's sidekick be rewritten as a female love interest. The projected budget for the film was then set at $70 million. The following year in 2003, David and Janet Peoples were commissioned by Columbia to write a script. Two years later in 2005, their script was being rewritten by Laeta Kalogridis, with Jonathan Mostow signing on to direct.

By 2007,The Lone Ranger had entered development hell with no new developments. In January, The Weinstein Company announced it's interest in purchasing the film rights from Classic Media to make a feature film. However the deal fell through and Classic Media retained the film rights; however later Entertainment rights would option the character's the film rights.In may 2007, producer Jerry Bruckheimer had the project moved to Walt Disney Pictures. Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio whose previous project was the Pirates of The Caribbean series were considered to write to write the script. In late March 2008, Disney announced that they were in negotiations to write the script for the film. Then in September of that year, they announced Johnny Depp had signed on to play Tonto.

The script written by Elliot & Rosso has since been rewritten by Justin Haythe whose script is the final one. In May 2009, Mike Newell who was directing Prince of Persia at the time expressed interest directing the film and entered negotiations to direct but was told by Bruckheimer that he wanted to hold off on finding a director for the project until Depp had completed filming on Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. In September 2010, Gore Verbinski was hired to direct. Filming was to begin after Depp had finished filming Dark Shadows for Tim Burton. On August 12, 2011 the film was indefinitely shelved due to Disney's refusal to green light a budget over $200 Million and the added cost of having Johnny Depp and Gore Verbinski on the project.In October 2011, budget and salary disputes had been settled. The film's budget was set at $215 Million and Johnny Depp would not receive $20 Million for the project and Verbinski's request for a $10 Million salary was also rejected.

Casting

Due to the film never getting past the stage of having a script written, not actors were attached to the project until 2008 when Johnny Depp was casted as Tonto. In 2010, Armie Hammer was then casted in the lead role. In late 2011, Tom Wilkinson was cast as the villain, Ruth Wilson as the leading lady, Helena Bonham Carter was casted in a supporting role, and James Frain was cast as a "a tough foreman overseeing Chinese and Indian workers" who works for Wilkinson's character.

Production

After Verbinski had lowered the budget to $215 million, production got underway. However, by June of 2012, the costs sky-rocketed, one again putting the projected budget at $250 million, and fell several weeks behind schedule.

Music

Instead of opting for a classic score by a traditional film composer and an orchestra, Gore Verbinski hired Jack White- the lead vocalist, guitarist, and pianist of The White Stripes until they split in February 2011. The film was White's first full score as he previously only guested and co-written songs on several soundtracks.