By Lone Ranger movie in development hell heap long time, until Jerry Bruckheimer save it and recruit Johnny Depp play Tonto, Native American assistant. Now say ‘how!’ to first look Depp and Armie Hammer as Ranger, posted on Bruckheimer Twitter account (me understand this work like modern smoke signal).
If you’re already sick of my attempt at pidgin ’50s Red Indian vernacular, it would be probably be wise to steer clear of this Lone Ranger revival: judging by the look of Depp as Tonto in the photo, it seems questionable ethnic politics might be one unwelcome feature of the original series to make the jump to the big screen. I suppose Depp would argue it’s affectionate and ironic, and that the character was presented more positively in the series than many give it credit for, but given the super-sensitive, politically correct times we live in, Depp’s descent from respectable indie actor to dispiriting caricature and writers Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio’s history with racial stereotypes from the Pirates series, I’d start training those cringe muscles just in case. Armie Hammer looks the part, though. The movie is scheduled to open on May 31st 2013.