After a tumultuous pre-production, Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films revealed today that filming is underway on the new big screen version of The Lone Ranger. Directed by recent Oscar winner Gore Verbinski, and written by Eric Aronson, Justin Haythe Ted Elliott, and Terry Rossio, the epic action-adventure western commenced on-location shooting in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado.
The announcement also brings an official plot synopsis and some more confirmations on casting. Joining lead stars Armie Hammer (The Social Network) and Johnny Depp are an assemblage of new and award-winning talent, including Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton, In The Bedroom) and William Fichtner (Armageddon, Pearl Harbor). Fichtner recently replaced country singer and occasional actor Dwight Yoakam as Butch Cavendish, the right hand man to the film’s villain (Wilkinson).
British actor James Frain will take the role of a railroad foreman, while Barry Pepper (True Grit, Saving Private Ryan), James Badge Dale (The Grey, Shame), and Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech, Alice in Wonderland) are confirmed as filling other supporting roles. The press release also named television actress Ruth Wilson (Luther), but no word on who she’ll be playing.
We’ve also got word from Variety of four new actors joining the project, which are Harry Treadaway (Fish Tank, pictured right), Matt O’Leary (Brick), W. Earl Brown (The Master) and Leon Rippy (The Alamo). The first two players will be part of Butch Cavendish’s gang, while the others are in unspecified roles.
See the synopsis below:
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.
Bruckheimer is producing the project along with executive producers Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Eric Ellenbogen and Eric McLeod. The Lone Ranger is slated to open on May 31st, 2013.
Are you in any way intrigued by The Lone Ranger‘s supporting cast or plot synopsis?