Johnny Depp Not Signed For 'The Lone Ranger' Sequels Yet; Talks Up Next Project

There's no doubt that Disney is hoping The Lone Ranger will turn out to be a franchise on the same level as Pirates of the Caribbean. They've certainly dumped enough money into it, reportedly well over $200M, and have all of the same key players in place. So it's not surprising to learn that most of the cast are signed on for sequels. What is surprising is the one who isn't locked in just yet.

While talking to E! Online, Armie Hammer revealed that he is signed on for a "couple" more movies as the titular gunslinging Texas Ranging. Co-star Ruth Wilson, who plays the widow of the Ranger's brother, admits to being bound for three films in total. Johnny Depp, on the other hand, has yet to put ink on a multi-picture deal...

Depp: "I think it was a one-shot deal."

He did go on to add that he'd "be ready to go in a second" if a sequel was green lit, but Disney would have to shell out a lot of cash, which could make the bean counters antsy considering the budget woes they went through last time.

Even though he already has two other franchises pushing ahead with Pirates of the Caribbean 5 and an Alice In Wonderland sequel, Depp is possibly looking to add one more. While talking with Buzzsugar, he talked about adapting Kyril Bonfiglioli's The Great Mortdecai Mustache Mystery, the final book in his quirky Mortdecai Trilogy. He hopes to make it his next project, probably after he's done fulfilling other obligations, but it's likely a ways off as there's no writer or director attached at this point.  It would be another offbeat role for Depp, playing wealthy art dealer Charlie Mortdecai, who has a lust for the finer things in life and often investigates strange unresolved crimes. Here's the plot synopsis straight from Amazon, and it sounds like something Depp could possibly reteam with Tim Burton on....

Kyril Bonfiglioli’s final novel follows the Hon. Charlie Mortdecai from adventure to misadventure via Jersey and Moscow to a final showdown in a Buckinghamshire bungalow of unparalleled hideousness. 

 Tackling en route an unhealthy sprinkling of well-seasoned academics, a cryptic monk, an aristocratic Chief Constable, and more spies than you could shoehorn into a black stretch limo, Mordecai finds himself embroiled in another mission of international insecurity.

The Lone Ranger hits theaters on July 3rd.