James Badge Dale to play The Lone Ranger's older brother?

Back before The Lone Ranger hit the skids due to Disney's waffling on the enormous budget, Jerry Bruckheimer and Co. had put together a hell of a supporting cast. Part of that was James Badge Dale, who some will recognize as Michael Fassbender's co-worker and only friend in Shame. Now that the problems have been ironed out, most of the cast is back in the saddle, with Dale returning for a role that should put him front and center alongside Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer.

Deadline reports that Dale could be playing Dan Reid, a character there have been many versions of in the history of The Lone Ranger. He is mostly considered to be his older brother, a former captain of the Texas Rangers considered to be a war hero. But there are other versions of Dan Reid, one being the Lone Ranger's young nephew and the father of Britt Reid, who will be familiar to many as The Green Hornet. With Armie Hammer in the title role, Dale would obviously be playing the former, but I've always been fascinated by the connections between The Lone Ranger and the Green Hornet.

Dale will be seen next opposite Brad Pitt in World War Z, but unfortunately he'll have to drop out of contention to play Bruce Willis' son in A Good Day to Die Hard as The Lone Ranger schedule will be keeping him busy for awhile. Still, he'll be working with Fassbender, Pitt, and Depp all within a year. That's damn impressive. 

Tom Wilkinson, Helena Bonham Carter, Barry Pepper, Ruth Wilson, and Dwight Yoakem are all back as production is set to kick off next month. The Lone Ranger rides into theaters on May 31st 2013.