Jerry Bruckheimer's new screen version of The Lone Ranger may be getting a new director in the form of Gore Verbinski. With Johnny Depp signed to star as Tonto, this would be the fifth time he has worked with Verbinski, after the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies and the upcoming animated Rango.
Deadline got the scoop, and one could draw the conclusion that previously attached director Mike Newell got the heave-ho based on the lackluster stateside performance of Prince of Persia.
No word yet on who will play the title character, although George Clooney has long been mooted for the role. The script is by Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio, and whether this can be a go-project with all the other films Depp has on his plate, including Dark Shadows, remains to be seen.
Depp's alliance with Verbinski seems to be taking on Burtonian-levels, but when you've made the boatloads of CA$H these two have, you'd probably want to stay together as well. Depp had previously worked with Newell on Donnie Brasco, so if Rango flops one wonders if Bruck and Captain Jack will show allegiance to Verbinski or throw him overboard as well.
