The Social Network‘s Armie Hammer has landed the title role in Walt Disney Pictures’ The Lone Ranger, reports Variety. He would star opposite Johnny Depp, who has been attached to play the Ranger’s sidekick, Tonto.
ComingSoon.net has been trying to get confirmation of the casting from Disney, but the studio has told us that the deal is not done yet.
To be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Gore Verbinski, the big screen adaptation was written by Justin Haythe.
“It’s sort of ‘Don Quixote’ told from Sancho Panza’s point of view,” Verbinski told ComingSoon.net earlier this year, indicating that Depp’s Tonto will actually be the main character, “…But it’s coming along really great…[It] wouldn’t shoot until next year, probably, because Johnny’s doing ‘Dark Shadows.'”
Hammer recently wrapped J. Edgar and is attached to play the prince in Relativity Media’s untitled Snow White project.
With a May 11, 2012 release date set, Dark Shadows should have production wrapped early enough for The Lone Ranger to begin production later this year if need be.
