Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer have Style in First Look at 'The Man from UNCLE'

There have been so many troubled blockbusters over the last couple of years that it's easy to overlook The Man from UNCLE, Warner Bros.' adaptation of the cult spy TV series from the 1960s.  Let's not forget that George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh were once attached to the project before dropping out, leaving the studio in a funk on how to proceed. Tom Cruise was briefly on board to star, also, but he too left. Finally Warner Bros. went the safe route, bringing in Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie and Man of Steel's Henry Cavill to join co-star Armie Hammer. While the film may lack the luster it once did, the first image promises it will be a stylish affair.

Cavill, Hammer, and Alicia Vikander capture the look of the swingin' '60s in these shot, relaxing with a drink after what must have been a tough mission. They play American spy Napoleon Solo (Cavill) and the KGB's Illya Kuryakin (Hammer) who are part of a joint effort to stop a global terrorist organization during the height of the Cold War.

Hopefully this means a trailer is on the way. The Man from UNCLE opens August 14th 2015.

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Nate Parker Adds Armie Hammer to Directorial Debut, 'The Birth of a Nation'

This weekend you'll be able to watch Nate Parker smolder opposite Gugu Mbatha-Raw in the pop music romance, Beyond the Lights. I've long been under the belief that Parker is the next Denzel Washington (they starred together in The Great Debaters), and like Denzel he's taking a turn behind the camera. Parker has been developing his directorial debut, a Nat Turner biopic titled The Birth of a Nation, and he's just added his first major co-star.

Armie Hammer, who hasn't been seen much since The Lone Ranger, has joined the film about Turner, an African-American slave who famously led a violent rebellion throughout Virginia in 1831 that led to the deaths of more than 60 whites. Turner would become one of the most controversial figures in American history. Hammer will play Samuel Turner, the son of Nat's first master.

Parker has been taking his time getting everything just right for this one, and for good reason. It's an important story that's bound to be polarizing whenever it does come out. As it stands right now there's no word on when he'll begin production.  In the meantime, we'll see Hammer next in Warner Bros.' remake of The Man from UNCLE.  [Deadline]

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Luke Evans, Olivia WIlde, and Cillian Murphy to Star in Ben Wheatley's 'Free Fire'

With wildly original films like Sightseers, A Field in England, and Kill List under his belt, Ben Wheatley has quickly established himself as a director with a unique voice, and some pretty big names are starting to take notice. His upcoming film High-Rise has an A-list cast (Tom Hiddleston, Sienna Miller, Elisabeth Moss), and now he's gathered an equally great lineup for his next project.

Wheatley will direct Free Fire, an action film starring Luke Evans, Cillian Murphy, Armie Hammer, Olivia Wilde, and Michael Smiley. Inspired by some of his favorite crime flicks like The Big Sleep, Le Samourai, The French Connection, Goodfellas and others, the story takes place in 1978 Boston and follows "Justine, a woman who has brokered a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two Irishmen (Murphy, Smiley) and a gang led by Hammer and Evans who are selling them a stash of guns. But when shots are fired in the handover, a heart stopping game of survival ensues."

Sounds amazing, and with Wheatley at the helm it's guaranteed to be more than the synopsis suggests. Filming is to begin next spring.  [Screen Daily]

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Scott Eastwood Takes 'The Longest Ride'; Armie Hammer Stars in 'Mine'; Allison Janney Joins 'Spy'

* Clint's son Scott Eastwood has won the lead role in Nicholas Sparks adaptation, The Longest Ride. Directed by George Tillman Jr., the film will tell two intertwining love stories. One is told through flashback and involves a 90-year-old man stuck in his car after a terrible accident and experiencing visions of the woman he once loved. The other is set in the present and....good Lord this sounds terrible....centers on an art student who falls in love with a handsome bull rider played by Eastwood. The Longest Ride was to open on Valentine's Day but has been moved to April 3rd 2015. [THR]

* Armie Hammer was The Lone Ranger in Disney's unfortunate flop from last year, but he seems to have emerged unscathed. He has The Man from UNCLE arriving early in 2015, and now he's signed for the psychological thriller, Mine. Co-directed and written by Fabio Guaglione and Fabio Resinaro, the story follows "a soldier who, after a failed assassination mission, finds himself stranded in the desert. Exposed to the elements, he must survive the dangers of the desert while also battling the psychological toll of the treacherous situation." [Variety]

* Paul Feig is building up a terrific cast of female talent to surround Melissa McCarthy in Spy, the espionage spoof she'll be headlining as a potential franchise. Allison Janney (The Way Way Back) and Morena Baccarin (Firefly) have come aboard the comedy about Susan Cooper (McCarthy), an analyst who goes into the field to get revenge for her agent boyfriend's death. Jude Law, Miranda Hart, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham, Bobby Cannavale, Nia Long, and 50 Cent co-star. Spy opens on May 22nd 2015.

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Armie Hammer Dismisses 'Superman vs. Batman' Rumors

Although he's never actually starred in a superhero film, it seems Armie Hammer can't really get away from being connected to them. A few years ago back when Warner Bros. was first beginning to put together a Justice League film helmed by George Miller, Hammer was in line to don the cape and cowl of Batman. That project never came together, of course, but with the recent announcement that the "Dark Knight" would be appearing in the Man of Steel sequel, rumors have begun to crop up that Hammer could be an option again.

But it sounds like Hammer, who is coming off some scathing reviews for the box office dud The Lone Ranger, has no interest in playing Batman or any other comic book hero. In an interview with Metro, he says...

Hammer: "I’m not actually a big fan of superhero films. If you have a guy who is supposed to be invulnerable, then what’s the point?"

Ironically, Hammer is due to star alongside Man of Steel's Henry Cavill in The Man from UNCLE, based on the cult favorite TV series. And even he acknowledges that doing two films alongside Cavill could be overkill, or at least give people the wrong impression....

Hammer: "I think if Henry and I did that film and then a superhero film straight after, people might start to wonder about us…"

A few weeks ago, a visit to the Captain America sequel's set had some erroneously reporting that Hammer would be starring in Edgar Wright's Ant-Man film. He's a popular actor right now and despite some recent setbacks he's clearly someone people want to see in either a Marvel or DC movie at some point.

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Review: 'The Lone Ranger', Starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer

Disney doesn't put the Pirates of the Caribbean think tank on just any ol' thing. When the combination of Johnny Depp, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Gore Verbinski get together it’s with the intention of crafting another $1B franchise, and that's exactly what the hopes for The Lone Ranger are. And hey, maybe Disney will get what they want, because there's very little difference to be found between either. Depp does good quirk, Verbinski does big action, the jokes are plentiful but not necessarily funny, the running time is 40 minutes too long, and despite being an origin story on the iconic Western hero you'll still be asking "Who was that masked man?" when all is said and done.

The chief problem makes itself known immediately, as the film opens in 1933 San Francisco, a precocious young boy dressed as the titular ranger makes his way through a traveling circus, coming upon an old Native American exhibit. The Indian mannequin turns out to be very much alive, an aged Tonto (Depp) as it turns out, and who takes the opportunity to recount his very first meetings with The Lone Ranger and their earliest adventures. Bouncing back and forth to this older Tonto does to the film's pacing what a broken hoof would do to the Ranger's horse, Silver. Already saddling us with a bloated 2 1/2 runtime, the non-linear approach makes it feel like 3 1/2, without adding anything of worth.

Not that it would have mattered much because the meat of the story...well, there isn't much meat to it and what little is there is painfully dull. Justin Haythe is credited with the script but it's really 'Pirates' scribes Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott whose fingerprints are all over it, and storytelling really isn't their bag. Depp was able to cover up the emptiness of their writing when Jack Sparrow was still a totally unique character, but his Tonto is so familiar that it's not going to hide anything. In his leading man bid, Armie Hammer is naive lawman John Reid, who returns to his southwest hometown where his brother Dan (a ruggedly charismatic James Badge Dale) is the baddest Texas Ranger in town. After he's killed by the heart-munching Butch Cavendish (a filthy and gross William Fichtner), John teams up with the eccentric and clearly insane Tonto to get justice. But what does justice mean for someone like John? His brother had a "shoot first" approach to the legal process, and Tonto certainly has his own ideas, but John's journey will have him changing his thoughts on due process in a major way.

You can feel the strains of franchise building in the relationship between The Lone Ranger and Tonto. It's the latter who we learn the most about, delving into his past in a way that has never been done before. It's mildly interesting to discover why he wears a dead bird on his head, which he constantly is feeding for some goofy reason, and why he's such a proponent for vigilante justice. But the further they go back, the more Tonto looks like a psycho rather than a guy with an off brand sense of humor. The distinction matters, and there are far too many moments where Tonto is more disturbing than funny. He still gets better treatment than the Ranger, who we learn almost nothing about other than that he once had a thing for his dead brother's widow (Ruth Wilson), and she still has one for him.  Wait, isn't this movie called The Lone Ranger? Shouldn't it maybe be about him? Just a little? Mostly we get the Ranger and Tonto jumping from one sticky situation to another, with lots of stuff happening but little of it engaging. There's some good comedic mileage out of Tonto's utter lack of respect for the Ranger, who he feels should have died and his brother Dan resurrected.

Hammer plays the straight man beautifully opposite Depp, most of the film walking a line between professorial pantywaist and the dashing hero we know he'll turn out to be. Depp's deadpan interpretation of Tonto sounds like it was ripped from old episodes of Daniel Boone, and those who openly complained about his being cast in the role (Depp claims Native American heritage that hasn't been proven) will probably find reason to take issue. Fortunately there are better portrayals that emerge later in the film, at least for a few minutes before white man greed interferes with their simple way of life. Women are basically a non-factor in this masculine Old West world, with Wilson having little to do but be a potential target for the Ranger's enemies. Most egregiously, Helena Bonham Carter is completely wasted as a brothel owner who gives new meaning to the phrase "killer legs".

Tonally a nightmare, broad comedy clashes with a subplot involving the white man's slaughter of the Native American population. There's a great deal of violence, more gruesome than one would expect from a Disney film, and sometimes it's played up for laughs when other times we're expected to find it sobering. A lot of this can be forgiven because everything looks so damn good, easily the best work Verbinski has done, and it's clear he took his experience directing the brilliant animated western Rango and put it to good use. Everything looks authentic and gorgeous, from the saddlebags to the tumbleweeds, captured beautifully with an incredible level of attention. Verbinski pushed the budget well past its limit, and it shows in two amazing bookend train sequences. The opening scene promises adventure on a massive scale that we never truly get. The final one, a dizzying dual-track battle set to The Lone Ranger's iconic William Tell Overture, ends the film on an exquisitely energetic note.

What it boils down to is that this is meant to be the first chapter in a bigger story, and unfortunately it was written like one. Overlong and needlessly convoluted, The Lone Ranger lacks the adventure needed to make the 1930s radio and TV hero a modern day action star.

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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.

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Edgar Wright Denies Those Armie Hammer As Ant-Man Rumors

This is why rumors are fun to talk about, even if most of the time they turn out not to mean anything. Yesterday the Internet was abuzz with a rumor that Edgar Wright and Armie Hammer were spotted on the Captain America: The Winter Soldier set, presumably setting up something involving Ant-Man. While there still hasn't been any photographic evidence of this happening, Hammer admitted to being there during an awkward interview, saying he went alone to visit a friend. Not that the interviewer believed him. But now Wright has taken to denying it as well, through a series of tweets...

But... I haven't been on the Cap 2 set...
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) June 25, 2013

Or met Mr. Hammer...
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) June 25, 2013

I am pretty sure I have been in a dark room in London this whole time.
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) June 25, 2013

At some point Marvel is going to have to introduce Ant-Man into the picture, and the most likely place for that to happen is either in Captain America 2 or Thor: The Dark World. At this point Marvel is good enough at keeping secrets to not have a major one exposed by having the director and star hanging out on set.

Ant-Man is due to open on November 6th 2015.

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Is Armie Hammer Marvel's Choice To Play Ant-Man?

As Marvel begins to firm up their Phase Three plans, Phase Two is still very much in play, and one of the big ones still left to be cast is Edgar Wright's Ant-Man. Most fans have been begging for Nathan Fillion to take the Hank Pym role, and while that's a solid choice, we haven't heard much in regards to who it could actually be. The Internet has gone a little crazy over the last few hours with a new rumor involving The Lone Ranger star, Armie Hammer, who obviously is pretty close to Disney right now.

The story goes that Hammer and Wright were recently spotted on the set of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, although no photos of it have appeared online yet. Of course this would lead to speculation that the two are there to be involved somehow, possibly shooting a scene that introduces Ant-Man. Maybe something along the lines of the test footage that debuted at last year's Comic-Con? While doing press for The Lone Ranger, Hammer was questioned about it by Screenrant, and his answers were either shaky or genuine, depending on who you ask. Here it goes in full....

So, you and Edgar Wright visited the Captain America 2 set…
Me and Edgar? Who’s Edgar? The actor?

The director. Edgar Wright.
Edgar Wright?

Is this an act? If this is an act, you’re convincing.
No, it’s not an act. Who’s Edgar Wright?

The supposed director of Ant-Man.
Of what?

Ant-Man.
Ant-Man? Oh! Wait! You think you know something! No, there’s nothing! What do you know? What’s the rumor?

That you were spotted on the Captain America 2 set with Edgar Wright.
No, there’s nothing.

Really?
Yeah!

Really.
I promise. I promise-promise. Ant-Man?

You’re saying it like you’ve never heard of him before.
No, I know the character Ant-Man—like, the comic book character.

You can’t tell me that this is the first time you’ve heard the rumor that you’re playing Ant-Man.
First in my life. I swear to god, cross my heart, hope to die. Amy! [Turns to his publicist Amy, who says, '"I've never heard of that ever ever. Who's Ant-Man?"] They make him shrink! You’re a news-breaker right there.

Potentially fictitious, apparently.
Well, it works. [Fake enthusiasm] I’m doing Ant-Man, I’m very excited about it. Me and Edgar.

Congrats.
I did go visit the set, though. Not with Edgar.

With who?
Just by myself.

Any reason?
Um… a buddy of mine was working on the movie so I just wanted to go say hi.

 Between Hammer and Felicity Jones' recent stumble regarding The Amazing Spider-Man 2, perhaps agents need to start training their clients on how to handle questions when it comes to superhero movies. It's a totally different ballgame.  Basically what this exchange proves is that Hammer was on the set, because he admitted it, but we'll have to wait and see what that turns out to mean. Chances are we'll see the actor playing Ant-Man walk across the Comic-Con stage next month, and we probably won't find out anything concrete before then. Ant-Man isn't due to hit theaters until November 6th 2015.

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Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer Cause Chaos In Three Clips From 'The Lone Ranger'

Gore Verbinski famously (and originally) brought us the story of Captain Jack Sparrow and the miscreant crew of the Black Pearl back in 2003. Now, Verbinski has re-teamed with Johnny Depp, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and Disney to bring us the adventures of Tonto and John Reid in The Lone Ranger. 

Disney has released three new clips for the film. The first clip includes the usage of the word "kimosabi" a lot, as well as Tonto giving Reid the famous Lone Ranger mask. Tonto also gives Reid advice about wearing the mask to protect himself and those he cares about. While watching, you may be reminded of Depp's pirate character, but in white makeup. 

The second clip showcases an action scene where Tonto and Reid are arguing on top of a train. There's a chain involved as well as a couple of swift getaways common of Verbinski's style of action. And the third clip, which also includes the train, requires no speaking as the train utterly destroys everything in its path and throws off Tonto and Reid. I'm sure the railroad workers will not be happy after the destruction of all their hard work! 

You can watch all three clips below! 

The Lone Ranger stars Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Helena Bonham-Carter, Barry Pepper, Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, and james Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson.

The film hits theaters July 3rd. 

THE LONE RANGER Clip 1 of 3 by Your Geek News

THE LONE RANGER Clip 2 of 3 by Your Geek News

THE LONE RANGER Clip 3 of 3 by Your Geek News

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Liam Hemsworth Joins 'Cut Bank'; Haley Bennett Dials Up 'The Equalizer'; Adam Sandler to Lead 'Hello Ghost'

* Liam Hemsworth has replaced Armie Hammer as the lead in Cut Bank, the indie crime thriller from Matt Shackman, marking his directorial debut. Baby Thor joins a remarkable ensemble that includes Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich, Michael Stuhlbarg, Billy Bob Thornton, Oliver Platt, and Bruce Dern. Robert Patino's Black List script will follow an ex-high school football star turned auto mechanic who desperately wants to escape his Cut Bank, Montana hometown that is frozen in time. His actions to get out will have a drastic effect on his life and on the town.

* Having recently wrapped a role in one of Terrence Malick's upcoming projects, Haley Bennett is looking for something a bit more grounded, and probably with many more guns. She's joining Denzel Washington, Chloe Moretz, David Meunier, and Melissa Leo in The Equalizer, Antoine Fuqua's big screen version of the hit TV series. Washington plays a former covert operative with a dark past who tries to atone by helping those in need of his services. [Deadline]

* Three mediocre talents are about to converge on what will likely be a mediocre, yet high-grossing comedy. Adam Sandler is set to produce and star in the supernatural laugher, Hello Ghost, playing “a man who, after he tries to kill himself, is plagued by the arrival of four ghosts. They won’t won’t leave him in peace until he helps them amend their past by granting them one wish.” Chris Columbus (I Love You, Beth Cooper) is in line to direct, based off a script by Karen Croner, who wrote the middling Tina Fey/Paul Rudd rom-com, Admission. This sounds awful, but Sandler's name still carries a lot of weight. He'll be seen next month in the unfortunate sequel Grown Ups 2. [THR]

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An American legend rises in the latest trailer for 'The Lone Ranger'

There's a little over a month until Disney's The Lone Ranger gallops into town, and does it feel like the film is already old news? Disney has an unknown quantity on their hands, one that could just as easily bomb as be a Pirates of the Caribbean level hit.  Johnny Depp is back in another quirky role playing the Native American sidekick Tonto, joined by his 'Pirates' director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. So it has that working in its favor. On the other hand, Armie Hammer isn't a proven star as the titular hero, and The Lone Ranger property is one most people aren't really familiar with, plus is set in a genre with a shaky box office history.

What should be the final trailer has been released, and it's more of the energetic action and snappy humor that should be familiar to 'Pirates' fans, only with a lot more horses and tumbleweeds. Also starring Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Wilkinson, James Badge Dale, and Ruth Wilson, The Lone Ranger opens on July 3rd.


The Lone Ranger - Trailer / Bande-Annonce #6 [VO|HD1080p] by Lyricis

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Armie Hammer joins Tom Cruise in 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'

Warner Bros. has run into a few problems trying to mount a remake to the 1960s spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., once having the top tier trio of Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney, and writer Scott Z. Burns on board. Creative differences over casting led Soderbergh to drop out, only to be replaced by Guy Ritchie, who the studio trusts implicitly after two successful Sherlock Holmes films. Tom Cruise began circling the lead agent role last month, and now not only has he been confirmed, but Armie Hammer will be joining him.

This completely a pretty incredible run for Hammer that has seen him working alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in J. Edgar, and Johnny Depp in The Lone Ranger. Cruise will be playing American spy Napoleon Solo, with Hammer as "a version" of Russian agent Illya Kuryakin. The show starred Robert Vaughn and David McCallum as agents for an espionage and law enforcement agency who take on an evil organization known as THRUSH.

Playing sidekick to a number of A-listers has worked wonders for Hammer, who had his breakout in The Social Network as the Winklevoss twins. With Cruise's schedule it's unclear when this will roll in front of cameras, but expect Warner Bros. to want to get moving quickly. [Deadline]

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*UPDATE* Two new trailers for 'The Lone Ranger' starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer

 *UPDATE* Disney has dropped an international trailer with some additional footage and a better look at the film's biggest action scenes. *

It's the summer blockbuster season, and that means it's time to watch Johnny Depp dress and like a fool, because that always seems to work. A new trailer for The Lone Ranger has been released, which stars Depp as the Native American sidekick Tonto, with Armie Hammer as the titular Old West hero. With Gore Verbinski directing and Jerry Bruckheimer producing, it's impossible to ignore the similarities between this and Pirates of the Caribbean, but will audiences turn out in the same numbers?

The latest footage gives us a closer look at how the partnership between the Ranger and Tonto was forged, before jumping into the best glimpse at the story we've seen yet. We see the murder that inspires Dan Reid to fight for justice in the first place, and a number of the colorful characters are introduced. Depp gets to show off his kooky side yet again, and Verbinski gets to put the film's massive budget on display with a huge train sequence.

It's easy to forget that Disney also owns this film, with so much attention on Star Wars and Marvel. Part of the reason may be the bloated cost (over $200M) that halted production and nearly stopped the film from happening. Also there's the sense that it could get lost in the shuffle during an especially crowded season for popcorn flicks.

The Lone Ranger rides into town in 3D on July 3rd. 

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New international trailer for 'The Lone Ranger'

Disney ran into a number of budgetary headaches when it comes to The Lone Ranger, which isn't really a surprise since Gore Verbinski is notorious for his overspending. The script was rewritten and certain large action sequences dropped in order to pare down costs, but as we've seen in two trailers already there are more than enough crazy sequences to keep the film exciting. A new international trailer has been released which puts all of the big weapons, stunts, and buddy humor on full display.

Starring Johnny Depp as Tonto and Armie Hammer as the titular gunslinger, the film still looks like Pirates of the Caribbean in the Old West. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just the familiar sort of energetic, family-ready action we've become accustomed to from producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Co-starring Barry Pepper, Tom Wilkinson, James Badge Dale, William Fichtner, and Helena Bonham Carter (complete with leg cannons!), The Lone Ranger gallops into theaters on July 3rd.

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New TV spot for 'The Lone Ranger'

While you're enjoying the Super Bowl, the TV spots for some of this year's biggest flicks are rolling our in earnest. One of the biggest is Disney's The Lone Ranger, which features Johnny Depp as Tonto and Armie Hammer as the titular hero. Does that make Hammer technically the star? Hardly. Depp will steal the show, as always. Check out the synopsis and the spot below. The Lone Ranger gallops into theaters on July 3rd.

PLOT: From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, comes Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger,” a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice–taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.

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1st full trailer for 'The Lone Ranger' with Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer

The teaser trailer that debuted for The Lone Ranger a couple of months ago was probably different than what many were expecting. Considering it reunites all of the principle players from the Pirates of the Caribbean team, including the writers, director Gore Verbinski, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and star Johnny Depp, it suggested a much harder edge and darker tone, which at least for me was worth getting excited about. Now the first full trailer has been released, and much of what was promising about it remains intact, albeit with a touch more humor.

Clearly designed to be more reminisicent of the 'Pirates' movies, this one takes every opportunity to remind you of the nearly $4B franchise. There's a bit more slapstick to the comedy, and it looks like Armie Hammer will get to carry his share of it as the titular gunslinger. He's actually more of the focus here than Depp, but we get to see plenty of him as the Native American sidekick, Tonto. It's another showy, Jack Sparrow-esque role for Depp, and I'm betting Disney will swing the attention back to him as the release date draws nearer.

All in all the film looks great, the much talked about train sequence looks like the sort of big set piece Verbinski is good at, and after a troubled production Disney probably has a huge hit on their hands. Co-starring Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Wilkinson, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson, Barry Pepper, and William Fichtner, The Lone Ranger rides into town on July 3rd.

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Is Armie Hammer back in the mix to play Batman in 'Justice League'?

So a few of you might remember back when George Miller was developing a Justice League feature for Warner Bros., the guy who was set to play Batman was a young Armie Hammer. Obviously, that never came to  be, but with the studio bringing the super team to the screen for the first time, a rumor has surfaced that Hammer may again be on their radar to don the cape and cowl.

The story comes from Moviehole who say they've heard from "a very good source" that Hammer is being considered for the role, but it won't be for a solo film, just for the Justice League ensemble, which to me sounds like they've decided to not go the Marvel route by having their films in one cohesive universe. The script cooked up by Will Beale is aiming for a younger version of Batman, and Hammer certainly fits the bill in that regard. He's also a much hotter commodity than he was all those years ago, having starred in The Social Network, Mirror Mirror, and taking the lead opposite Johnny Depp in The Lone Ranger. If that film does well and launches another tentpole Disney franchise, you can bet Hammer will be seeing more superhero deals crossing his desk.

So take all of this for a grain of salt for now. The studio is taking a measured approach with Justice League, as well they should given the potential of the property. First order of business will be to finally lock down a director, with the rumored names including The Wachowskis, Ruben Fleischer, McG, and Brett Ratner.

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The first trailer for 'The Lone Ranger' is here!

With a calamitous shoot finally completed, Disney has spent this week building up the hype for next summer's The Lone Ranger with two sets of images released and yesterday's poster reveal. The film reunites the entirety of the Pirates of the Caribbean team, with Johnny Depp slipping into the showy role of Tonto, Gore Verbinski directing, Jerry Bruckheimer producing, and a script by Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot. Can they recapture the same magic as before and launch another $1B franchise?

The first trailer for The Lone Ranger has been released, although for those who attended Comic-Con they will recognize it as the same footage from the Disney panel. It's actually a pretty impressive clip, and Verbinski, who is a devoted fan of the Western genre, has given the film a much harder edge than I think many will be expecting. That said, when Depp goes into his "There will come a time, Kemosabe" routine, it sounds a little bit silly, and the door seems wide open for the same sort of bouncy and easily digestible action that the 'Pirates' flicks were famous for. There's a lot less of Depp, and plenty of Hammer as the titular masked hero, which should appease those who felt the latter would be shuffled into the background.

There's still the potential for this to be the disaster all of the production troubles hint at it being, but this trailer is pretty good. Expect a higher quality version to be released later today. The Lone Ranger opens on July 3rd 2013.....[CBM]

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Taylor Kitsch, Garrett Hedlund, and Armie Hammer eyed for Finnick Odair role in 'Catching Fire'

It looks like our own Rocky Hadadi has the gift of womanly foresight. So that whole thing with Robert Pattinson didn't quite work out, so now it's time for Lionsgate to get crankin' with a real wish list for the role of former victor, Finnick Odair in Catching Fire. The names they've come up with probably won't surprise anybody, but they come with definite pros and cons.

E! has gotten wind of a few names in the mix, and they include Taylor Kitsch, Garrett Hedlund, and Armie Hammer. A decision could come as soon as this week, as the studio wants to get a jump on things before filming begins this spring. Just like the previous hit film, the schedule is going to be incredibly tight, and with a new director in Francis Lawrence coming aboard it makes sense to not have any loose ends. All three names could fit the role pretty well, although there's still an outside chance an unknown will be cast and built into a star. There have been online petitions for Jesse Williams(The Cabin in the Woods) to take on the part, and he'd fit that criteria pretty nicely.

Kitsch will likely be the top choice amongst the Hunger Games crowd, as he's been a favorite ever since Friday Night Lights and any time he manages to take his shirt off. The problem is that he's been at the front of two straight failed franchise starters in Battleship and John Carter, so Lionsgate may be a little gunshy.  Finnick is an important character in the next two stories, but he's definitely on the supporting level, which may be a good place for Kitsch to be right now. He may have been thrust into leading man status a bit too quickly. Armie Hammer has capitalized about as well as anyone could expect after The Social Network. Although Mirror Mirror was a dud, it didn't hurt his stock all that much, and he's still set to co-star with Johnny Depp in The Lone Ranger. For that reason he'd make a lot of sense for Lionsgate who may want to capitalize on Hammer's association with Depp. On the other hand, Hammer may not be willing to take a backseat to take a back seat to just anybody.

Hedlund may be the hardest to predict. Tron: Legacy is his biggest calling card, although he was probably the least memorable aspect of it. Ever since he's sort of been all over the place. He turned up in Gwyneth Paltrow's country music stinker, Country Strong. He'll make a serious bid for credibility as part of Walter Salles' On the Road adaptation. Warner Brothers also had him pegged for the lead in their failed live-action Akira. So studios like him, he's recognizable, but is he charismatic enough for the part? Hard to say.

Basically, we don't know anything yet except these are the names being discussed, but you can expect to hear something soon. Who do you want to see in Catching Fire? Look for the film to open next year on November 22nd.

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