Johnny Depp as TONTO?!?

[Earth 2 Chris]

Newsarama.com : Disney Shows Off Tron 2, Announced Depp as Tonto in Lone Ranger Remake

Now that's out of left field. I'm a fan of Depp, but aren't there any Native American actors out there who could have pulled it off?

Chris

[Mikey]

I wish Depp would take a break for a while.

I'm getting so sick of seeing his face and hearing his name.

[huedell]

(Someone please drudge up the other thread where there were a billion
cases made on actors playing roles that were out of their nationality, race,
etc etc.---we ceratinly hashed that one to death)

The only thing the tees me off about a new LONE RANGER movie is that
I can't be a part of it---to me it's one of the most important
decisions in the movie industry to be made--- and even though
the 1980s one was a spectacular failure, I STILL can't believe it took
this long to put this together.

[Earth 2 Chris]

(Someone please drudge up the other thread where there were a billion
cases made on actors playing roles that were out of their nationality, race,
etc etc.---we ceratinly hashed that one to death)

True. Bottom line I guess is, there is no Native American actor with the box office draw of Depp. And perhaps they want to cast an unknown (or mostly unknown) as the Ranger and anchor him with a known Tonto.

The only thing the tees me off about a new LONE RANGER movie is that
I can't be a part of it---to me it's one of the most important
decisions in the movie industry to be made--- and even though
the 1980s one was a spectacular failure, I STILL can't believe it took
this long to put this together.

I actually LIKE that movie, except for Spilsbury as the Ranger. He couldn't act, and they even dubbed in his voice with another actor! That movie had all the right elements, and treated the material with MUCH respect, but failing on that essential casting killed it, IMHO.

Chris

[Mikey]

I heard Depp actually is an American Indian in real life.

At least, part

[huedell]

I actually LIKE that movie, except for Spilsbury as the Ranger. He
couldn't act, and they even dubbed in his voice with another actor! That movie had all the right elements, and treated the material with MUCH
respect, but failing on that essential casting killed it, IMHO.

I can't comment---I remember liking it in the 80s as a kid---but I
haven't seen it since. All I have is wikipedia's entry on the movie
and guys like you guys' opinions on it.

I really love the LONE RANGER legend (as stated above) ---
---and I loved the TV show---and the toy line
and if you're giving the 80s movie a half-decent review Chris,
I'm guessing it'd be worth having in my collection.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I'm a big fan of the Lone Ranger, due mostly to my dad's love for him, and watching the old Clayton Moore shows on Saturday reruns (never liked John Hart much). The 80s movie had it's heart in the right place, GREAT John Barry soundtrack (similar to his great music in Dances with Wolves), great supporting cast (Jason Robards, Christopher Lloyd), but man, they botched that central casting. Still worth owning, if it's cheap. I got it on VHS right before that format officially died for like $2.50.

Chris

[toys2cool]

I love Depp,but this might be pushing it a bit

[Earth 2 Chris]

I can't see Depp speaking in stilited Jay Silverheels type-speak:
"Hmm, Kemosabe. Me go town. Get roughed up by bigot white man. They string me up. You ride in. Shoot rope."

Chris

[wolfie]

I got it on VHS right before that format officially died

Chris

It did? When did that happen?

It ain't dead until i say it's dead.

[Hector]

I actually LIKE that movie, except for Spilsbury as the Ranger. He couldn't act, and they even dubbed in his voice with another actor! That movie had all the right elements, and treated the material with MUCH respect, but failing on that essential casting killed it, IMHO.

Sorry...that was a HORRIBLE movie.

The dude couldn't shoot until he was given silver bullets???

And the climatic scene ends with a fistfight???

Terrible flick.

[Hector]

What a sad turn of events for Klinton Spilsbury...it states that during a dry spell...he ended up working in a Subway fast food joint...wow...

Klinton Spilsbury - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Hector]

Johnny Depp is part Cherokee.

[Captain]

If anybody here reads Guns of the Old West magazine, they had a Lone Ranger article in the last issue....and a sidebar about Spilsbury. I wont go into detail, but it explains a lot of what was wrong there.

As for Depp as Tonto.....Though I'm not what you would call a Depp fan (most of his films are just plain weird) I will admit he always seems to bring his a-game, and work wonders with the parts he's played...that I've seen anyways. I could see him do Tonto.

Anybody know who's wearing the mask?

[thunderbolt]

Depp should work fine as Tonto and help Disney put asses in the seats. Now if we could get Bruce Campbell as the Ranger. Kinda interesting that The Lone Ranger and the Green Hornet are both in the works at the same time.