Dwight Yoakem is the bad guy in The Lone Ranger

Hard to believe there was ever a time when Dwight Yoakam was just a country music star. I've come to recognize him solely as a great character actor, capable of playing creepy guys in movies like Sling Blade, a crazed street doctor in Crank, or a disinterested sheriff in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. His presence tends to be a good thing, especially when he's being bad. He'll get another chance to do some dirt as Variety reports he'll be playing the bad guy in The Lone Ranger.

The masked gunslinger's latest adventure will see the re-teaming of Gore Verbinski as director and Johnny Depp as Tonto. Of course this is a Jerry Bruckheimer produced joint so expect it to have the same romper room tone all his films do. Armie Hammer(The Social Network) will play the Ranger, who will be taking something of a back seat to Tonto in the story department. Tom Wilkinson and Ruth Wilson are part of the cast as well. Yoakem will play outlaw Butch Cavendish, one of the Ranger's primary enemies.

That leaves a mess of supporting roles left to be filled, and Depp may get the opportunity to work with another of his frequent partners, Helena Bonham Carter(Sweeney Todd), who is said to be eyeing a role. Barry Pepper(True Grit) and James Badge Dale(World War Z) are in contention as well. This is shaping up to look like more than the conveyor belt action flick it appeared to be at first. 

The Christmas season next year is jam packed, with The Lone Ranger setting up shop on December 21st 2012.