Thursday, September 25, 2008

Correction: Johnny Depp to Play Tonto...Who's To Play the Lone Ranger?

As has been mentioned in the comments, my previous post about Johnny Depp's role as the Lone Ranger needs corrections. The fact is Depp will be playing perhaps an even quirkier costumed role in Bruckheimer's Lone Ranger film...he will be playing the part of Tonto, the comical Native American sidekick.

Which leads me to ask...who will play the Lone Ranger?

If this was going to be a quality well made/well acted film...I know who I would want to play The Lone Ranger...Jon Hamm, star of AMC's award winning show Mad Men. He has the allure of a masculine all American hero of the West, with intrigue, mysterious behavior, and strength.

But, if I know Jerry Bruckheimer (which I don't personally...but who's work I couldn't completly avoid even if I tried to)...I imagine that Bruckheimer will want a name he can write in really big letters on that movie poster...a bankable box office name to accompany Johhny Depp.


It's a tricky role to fill, because the strong male Paul Newman-esque actors are less common these days then the Ben Stillers, Jack Black or Matthew McConaughey.


Since the role probably wouldn't work for the very bankable Will Smith, I think he'll chose someone like Mark Wahlberg.


Other options I could see is Eric Bana or Aaron Eckhart, but there names just don't seem big enough.

Any suggestions or predictions for who will play the Lone Ranger?

10 comments:

Paula said...

They cast a white guy to play Tonto? Eeeew, the native doo-doo is going to hit the FAN, people. I can't believe they'd be so dense as to cast a white guy as Tonto.

I can't believe they're redoing this at all, actually. Is Tonto going to talk like he did? Yikes! They'd better update that.

OK, who to play the Lone Ranger? What about that guy with the great chin from "Thank You for Not Smoking"? Aaron Eckhart? All you need to be a man in a mask is a very strong chin.

Lorna said...

I think it's just too silly to be revamping The Lone Ranger, but how about Angelilna Jolie or Tilda Swinton?

Dad said...

Its probably not this kind of film, but I could see Bruce Campbell being a great Lone Ranger. He and Depp might be awkward enough together to match the original.

Or how about Cate Blanchett?

They probably couldn't get a Native American actor who would want to play Tonto. I don't really see how they can make a movie nowadays with a character named "Tonto" unless it stars Ben Stiller. Isn't that Spanish for "retard"?

jasdye said...

how about that guy from smoke signals to play the ranger? the movie was based off a great book of short stories. i think the name was, the lone ranger and tonto play basketball or something like that and tonto beats the mess out of lr in a drunken fury in a dream.

i'm too lazy to look it up right now.

Anonymous said...

I see your friend Bennet does not fear being PC...

James (SeattleDad) said...

I just finished up Mad Men and would love to see Hamm as the Lone Ranger. Good call.

Um Naief said...

i can't imagine johnny depp playing tonto. should be interesting and sorta quirky...

i think george clooney would make a good lone ranger, but would he ever take such a role?!

Um Naief said...

btw... for paula, johnny depp is native american indian, so that makes him the perfect choice to play an native american indian.

Um Naief said...

just been reading perezhilton and apparently there's buzz out there that george clooney will play the lone ranger!! hmmmm... this is most interesting.

Paula said...

Thanks for setting me straight on that.