[movie] The Lone Ranger

[CeeKay]

of course we've all probably heard about this (surprised there wasn't already a thread on it), but for those not in the know Gore Verbinski is directing, with Johnny Depp playing Tonto.  Gore is going to focus on Tonto as the main character:

"It's sort of 'Don Quixote' told from Sancho Panza's point of view," said Verbinski of the Justin Haythe script, indicating that Depp's Tonto will actually be the main character

After loving all three Pirates movies I have faith in these two, but I'd love to see a traditional Lone Ranger flick.  The character had a new comic book series a couple of years back that was fairly decent, and it updated the character enough without resorting to gimmicks, so I'd think they could easily bring it to the big screen without making it 'Tonto and the Lone Ranger'.

[CeeKay]

Arnie Hammer is the new Lone Ranger:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118037227?refCatId=13

[CeeKay]

cancelled?

I'm told this all just happened, and Disney pulled the plug because the budget, which I've heard the filmmakers were trying to reduce from $250 million--I've heard from insider that they'd gotten down to $232 million,  but whatever the number, it wasn't close to the $200 million that Disney wanted to spend.

$250 million to make?  JEEBUS!

[faide]

Lone Ranger is just a guy on a horse right?   How does that cost $200 million plus dollars to make? 

Seems like budgets in Hollywood are getting a bit out of hand...

[ydejin]

The real shocker to me in that cancellation article is this little tidbit:

This had to be an incredibly tough call for Disney ... but they have several huge live action bets on the table already. ... John Carter of Mars ... has a budget that has ballooned to north of $250 million because of extensive re-shoots [a studio insider said the number is lower] ...

Seriously they spent $250 million on John Carter?  That just seems nuts to me.  I've seen the trailers, it looks like a B-movie.  I like B-movies, I see a lot of them, and frankly the John Carter trailer didn't much make me want to see it.  I can't believe they spent $250 million on it.

The Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp, sure I'm in for renting on DVD for sure, and maybe at the movies, depending on what else is out.  John Carter, probably not even a DVD rental for me (might have been interested if the trailer had been more exciting, but overall the concept is less interesting to me, and Johnny Depp definitely counts for a lot in terms of making a movie interesting).

[metallicorphan]

goes to show it doesn't matter how much Gore Verbinsky and Johnny Depp have already made for Disney..

Spoiler for Hiden:

Pirates 1 $654,264,015
Pirates 2 $1,066,179,725
Pirates 3 $963,420,425

$250 million is still $250 million

If they gave it a similar theme as Pirates(as in rip roaring adventure),then i can't see it doing too bad at the cinema,or at least making something back

Maybe its because he mentioned Don Quixote in the quote(or maybe its the mask ),but i saw this project more similar as 'The Mask Of Zorro' type film..and i liked that film(not seen the sequel)

[Blackjack]

goes to show it doesn't matter how much Gore Verbinsky and Johnny Depp have already made for Disney..

Spoiler for Hiden:

Pirates 1 $654,264,015
Pirates 2 $1,066,179,725
Pirates 3 $963,420,425

$250 million is still $250 million

If they gave it a similar theme as Pirates(as in rip roaring adventure),then i can't see it doing too bad at the cinema,or at least making something back

Maybe its because he mentioned Don Quixote in the quote(or maybe its the mask ),but i saw this project more similar as 'The Mask Of Zorro' type film..and i liked that film(not seen the sequel)

As the box office dweeb here, I point out that $250 million is the production cost. Often times, marketing costs rise to $150M-$200M.

So you might be asking a movie, based on an apparently bizarre take of a hero whose heyday was many decades ago (I was reading Lone Ranger comic books in about 1971), to gross $450M just to break even. Johnny Depp in Pirates films guarantees you something, Johnny Depp in lots of other films gets you something like ... The Tourist (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=tourist.htm, oops). With the right material, he's gold, with lots of other things, we the audience just don't bother to show up.

I suspect given how disastrous Cowboys & Aliens' box office take has been, we'll probably see a cooling down on other Western/Western hybrids unless the budget is something reasonable.

[ydejin]

...

Maybe its because he mentioned Don Quixote in the quote(or maybe its the mask ),but i saw this project more similar as 'The Mask Of Zorro' type film..and i liked that film(not seen the sequel)

That was my thinking too.  Seemed like it could be a fun movie.

The sequel Legend of Zoro was okay, but not great.  Nowhere near as good as Mask of Zorro.

[EngineNo9]

I have no idea how you could spend $250 million on a movie about a couple dudes on horses.  It's not like they're doing complicated underwater shots or 100% CG Native Americans or anything.

[kratz]

I hardly could see this director not doing something ridiculously over the top.  Maybe  he was building a gigantic robotic spider... Too much Verbinski, not enough gore.

[Blackjack]

I have this sinking feeling that they'll resort to a "mash up" called Cowboys and Gunslingers. While Javier Bardem sulks around like No Country for Old Men II, Johnny Depp will cleverly combine Mick Jagger and Charles Nelson Riley in an amalgmation of Tonto AND The Lone Ranger on acid.  

http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/168221-the-dark-tower-and-the-lone-ranger-arent-dead-yet-

On the Lone Ranger front, things are looking a bit more grim as director Gore Verbinksi makes moves to drive down the tremendous $250 million budget. Though Westerns are traditionally one of the less-expensive genres, Ranger's script was originally said to feature supernatural elements in the form of Native American werewolves as well as "the biggest train sequence in film history." The werewolves, at least, appear to have now been removed from the current plans for the project.

So now you know why Verbinski was going to need such a fortune for a "cowboy" movie.  

[Hrothgar]

Well, of course, silver bullets.  How could you not have werewolves?  [sigh]

[McNutt]

They're going to make up their costs with in-film product placements.  C'mon, people.  Think!

[CeeKay]

They're going to make up their costs with in-film product placements.  C'mon, people.  Think!

ah, yes, the Nike tribe and the Marlboro man.

[pr0ner]

I hardly could see this director not doing something ridiculously over the top.  Maybe  he was building a gigantic robotic spider... Too much Verbinski, not enough gore.

I thought the giant robot spider realm was Barry Sonnenfeld, not Gore Verbinski.

[kratz]

I hardly could see this director not doing something ridiculously over the top.  Maybe  he was building a gigantic robotic spider... Too much Verbinski, not enough gore.

I thought the giant robot spider realm was Barry Sonnenfeld, not Gore Verbinski.

Yeah, I knew it wasn't him... it just seems like the sort of stupid western he'd make.

[metallicorphan]

it's back on

Johnny Depp's recently aborted "The Lone Ranger" will now look to follow the "Moneyball" path to success. (Minus the whole "losing to 'The Lion King 3D'" part.) According to Deadline (and confirmed by The Wrap), director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer have apparently done enough tinkering to the script to lower the film's production budget from a staggering $250 million to a more manageable $215 million. And that was all Disney wanted in the first place.

$250mil to $215mil.....so just $35mil was what has changed everyones minds?

[kratz]

What's sadder - that it was only a $35M difference that tipped the scales, or that we think of $35M as chump change?

[ydejin]

it's back on

Yay!!!

[CeeKay]

first pic of the Lone Ranger and Tonto:

[Blackjack]

What's sadder - that it was only a $35M difference that tipped the scales, or that we think of $35M as chump change?

Dude, just check under your couch cushions. There's $35 million there waiting for you!  

I'm still trying to figure out why Hollywood has shoved $450 million (!) into two Taylor Kitsch-headlined films (John Carter and Battleship). I thought all these "found footage" and Handicam films making hundreds of millions on shoestring budget would change how the studios worked but it's clear they still have insane amounts of money to blow.

As for the photo, well, guess if they decided to release it in b/w like The Artist, they won't miss anything but sky color?   I always remember The Lone Ranger wearing light blue, but I figure that just wouldn't Be Considered Cool...

Since Johnny Dep channeled Keith Richards for his Pirates character, I wonder who he'll channel for Tonto. Mick Jagger? Paul McCartney? Jim Morrison?

[CeeKay]

[CeeKay]

not sure I like this teaser poster, something seems off with it.

[farley2k]

And here is the first trailer.

I have to say it looked pretty darn generic.  Nothing really stood out for me in terms of setting, story, acting, etc.  It felt like a run of the mill western.  Hopefully future previews will show what makes this special.

[CeeKay]

It felt like a run of the mill western.

this.  still interested in the film though.

[EngineNo9]

Yeah, that trailer didn't drive up my interest too much.  Seeing Helena Bonham Carter actually drove it down. 

As an aside, I just think somebody named Armie Hammer should have dedicated his life to becoming an action movie star.  Why isn't he getting buff and shooting M-60's like a boss? 

[Bullwinkle]

Yeah, that trailer didn't drive up my interest too much.  Seeing Helena Bonham Carter actually drove it down. 

As an aside, I just think somebody named Armie Hammer should have dedicated his life to becoming an action movie star.  Why isn't he getting buff and shooting M-60's like a boss? 

Because his privileged life as an heir to the Arm & Hammer fortune has left him a little soft.

[CeeKay]

latest trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Liic7Ieh47E

[farley2k]

And this one sealed the deal - skipping this one.  It just looks dull beyond belief.

[Blackjack]

Reminding me, in wrong ways, of the dreadful Wild Wild West movie.

I'd only give it a chance because I'm sure the first Pirates trailers left people thinking, "WTF is that?" If there is something fun about LR or Depp's performance, the initial trailers don't seem to get it across well.

[CeeKay]

90 second trailer from some commercial extravaganza they are having on TV tonight.

[EngineNo9]

90 second trailer from some commercial extravaganza they are having on TV tonight.

Did they seriously pay out for a 90 second trailer during the Super Bowl?  Five months before it releases?  I guess they're really hoping for big opening day numbers.

[CeeKay]

90 second trailer from some commercial extravaganza they are having on TV tonight.

Did they seriously pay out for a 90 second trailer during the Super Bowl?  Five months before it releases?  I guess they're really hoping for big opening day numbers.

as much as the film is costing them I imagine we'll have one hell of a media blitz come May or June.

[metallicorphan]

Remember all those hilarious Chinese mock ups that put Arnie in The Phantom Menace or has Edd stark as Thor for the Game of Thrones?

well with this new International Trailer(Japanese) for the Lone Ranger,see if you can spot another one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngQ15f9eZ0M

Spoiler for Hiden:

It may very well be in its place,because the line "There is something very wrong with that horse"...was pure Jack Sparrow

[Razgon]

Are you referring to the bit before the chinese that says "From the makers of Pirates?"

[metallicorphan]

Are you referring to the bit before the chinese that says "From the makers of Pirates?"

Aww fuck you and your understanding of Japanese that's not fair

wait,is it Chinese?,i thought it was Japanese

[CeeKay]

posters!  we got posters!