Razzie Awards: 'After Earth', 'Movie 43' Dishonored with 3 "Wins" Each

Many call the day of the Academy Awards the Super Bowl for movie fans, but for others it's like cinematic tax day. And those who are paying the price for their filmic indiscretions in 2013 are those responsible for inflicting After Earth and Movie 43 on us.

The Razzie Awards came out with their awards for the worst movies and performances of 2013, and *shocker* there's not an Adam Sandler sighting to be found. Instead, their wrath is aimed at another soft target: Will and Jaden Smith. Will took home Worst Actor for his performance in After Earth, with Jaden taking Worst Supporting Actor, and the pair dishonored with Worst Screen Ensemble.It's worth noting that the Razzies, which have become more pointless than ever as they aim for easy comedy targets that will gain them media attention, didn't recognize that Jaden was the lead actor in After Earth but it doesn't really matter.

If there's such a thing as the top Razzie awards, then Movie 43 took them all. The sketch comedy, which features an Oscar-worthy cast in a seemingly endless series of unfunny gross-out gags, earned Worst Movie, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Director awarded to all 13 directors who took part in making it happen. Other easy targets for the Razzies were the box office bomb, The Lone Ranger, and Kim Kardashian for her supporting appearance in Tyler Perry's Temptation. Full announcement is below, and I think this article in The Telegraph encapsulates why I think the Razzies are worthy of ridicule.

The results are in, the envelopes have been opened, and the "winners" of the 34th Awards have been unveiled in ceremonies held at Hollywood's coolest new venue — just down the street from Sunday night's Oscars — IgnitedSpaces. The hour long show handed out at least one statuette to four of the five Worst Picture nominees, but Adam Sandler and his unfunny follow up Grown Ups 2 went home empty-handed.

Taking three of the top awards was the star-studded, snicker-free sketch comedy Movie 43, which "won" for Worst Screenplay (written by at least 19 people), Worst Director ("credited" to 13 people), and Worst Picture. Tying with 43, and also "winning" 3 gold spray-painted trophies, was the Will and Jaden Smith sci-fi fiasco After Earth. Dad Will Smith took Worst Supporting Actor, son Jaden was named Worst Lead Actor, and the combination of father & son, described in the ceremony as being "stranded on Planet Nepotism", took the award for Worst Screen Combo.

Rounding out the names read when the envelopes were torn were: Tyler Perry (in drag) as Worst Actress for his 8th time playing the cross-dressing character in A Madea Christmas; Kim Kardashian in Tyler Perry's Temptation as Worst Supporting Actress; and the year's biggest box office bomb, a $250 million "reboot" of The Lone Ranger (on which Disney took a $200 million tax write off) which was chosen as Worst Remake/Rip-Off or Sequel.

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New on DVD & Blu-Ray: 'Elysium', 'The Lone Ranger', 'Kick-Ass 2'

Elysium: In a world where only the seriously wealthy get to live in Utopian-like society with health machines that cure everything from the common cold to cancer, it's not hard to wonder why the other half is angry and desperate to get the same thing. And when an accident befalls a factory worker and he only has days to live, he sets out to help himself and the remainder of the population that's left to suffer on Earth. The film stars Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, and Diego Luna. 

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The Lone Ranger: Gore Verbinski re-teams with Johnny Depp, this time playing the famous Tonto, to bring us the movie-version of the hit TV series of the same name. Train action, the Lone Ranger's horse Silver, and an adventure that's filled with humor are sprinkled throughout the film. Also starring Armie Hammer, Ruth Wilson, Helena Bonham Carter, William Fichtner, and Tom Wilkinson. 

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Kick-Ass 2: The sequel to the popular 2010 film brings back Kick-Ass and Hit Girl as they move on after Big Daddy's death and try to live normal lives only to realize that they really can't. Red Mist plots his revenge and Kick-Ass joins a crime-fighting team of misfits and do-gooders who are led by Colonel Stars and Stripes. The film stars Chloe Grace-Moretz, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Morris Chestnut, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Jim Carrey.

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Prisoners: What happens when two families are faced with the kidnappings of their daughters? They face anger, desperation, anguish, and are pushed into morally questionable actions in order to get back what they lost. A drama filled with great performances and a fantastic story. Starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, Melissa Leo, and Paul Dano. 

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Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters: Percy Jackson takes his next great adventure when he has to save his friend Grover from the Cyclops who's holding him hostage. With the help of Annabeth and his newly-discovered half-brother Tyson, Percy sets out to cross the sea of monsters. Starring Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Douglas Smith, and Brandon T. Jackson. 

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The Family: Robert De Niro plays a mobster who's had to go into the Witness Protection Program after ratting out a fellow mobster to the FBI. His family can't seem to keep the secret of their identity... well, a secret. So they move from place to place, finally landing them in the south of France. But the past always has a way of biting everyone in the ass. Also starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Tommy Lee Jones, and Diana Agron. 

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One Direction: This is Us: If you're a fan of the British pop group (or maybe your tween), then this movie is most definitely for you. It highlights the each of the five members' pasts, how they got into the music scene, and follows them through moments in their private and public lives. An extra bonus is the concert footage.  

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Ain't Them Bodies Saints: To protect his pregnant wife, Bob Muldoon is sentenced to four years of prison for a crime he didn't commit. He escapes prison before his sentence is over and teams up with a man named Will in order to find his wife and the daughter he's never met. The film stars Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, Rami Malek, Ben Foster, and Keith Carradine. 

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The Sound of Music Live!: Millions of viewers tuned in to watch country music star Carrie Underwood fill the shoes of Julie Andrews in the stage musical of The Sound of Music. Originally a stage production, the beloved story of the Von Trapp family singers and their governess was filmed during a live production and is available to add to your stockings for Christmas! 

BUY NOW!

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Tops At the Box Office: 'Despicable Me 2' Holds; 'Grown Ups 2' Bests 'Pacific Rim'

1. Despicable Me 2- $44.75M/$229.2M
Those Minions are some deceptively strong little buggers, delivering knock-out blows to Adam Sandler's Grown Ups 2 and Guillermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim. The 3D animated sequel only slipped 46% from last week, while also taking in an additional $55M on the foreign market for a worldwide haul of $472M. At this rate it will surpass Despicable Me's $543M run in just a few more days.
2. Grown Ups 2- $42.5M
Despite being slaughtered by critics, Grown Ups was the biggest live-action hit in Adam Sandler's career, and thus it also gave him his very first sequel. It turns out that roughly the same people who endured the first one turned out for Grown Ups 2. For Sandler this is a big win for him, and if it hangs around for awhile it won't be surprising to see Grown Ups 3 somewhere down the line. *shudder*
3. Pacific Rim- $38.3M
It's not completely surprising that Guillermo Del Toro's big sci-fi action film Pacific Rim was bested by the broad comedy of Grown Ups 2. Despite the fanboy crowd's enthusiasm for the monsters vs. robots spectacle, the genre has traditionally found it tough sledding in America, and total lack of A-list stars didn't help. Given the $200M budget, the $38M debut could be a big problem for Legendary Pictures, who recently split off from longtime partner, Warner Bros, and any hopes of a sequel will depend largely on the foreign box office. Fortunately, Del Toro has wide international recognition, and the film features an ethnically diverse cast in a story largely pulling from Japanese culture, which may explain the strong $53M overseas haul, making for a worldwide total of $91M.
4. The Heat- $14M/$112.4M
5. The Lone Ranger- $11.1M/$71.1M
After a disastrous opening that had everybody questioning Johnny Depp's viability when not dressed up as Jack Sparrow, The Lone Ranger kept the negative streak going by dropping a massive 62% in its second week. Bad word-of-mouth further drove this one into the dust, and with only $119M worldwide, against a budget shooting past $215M (minus marketing), this is looking like the year's most high-profile dud. Not that Disney cares, since they've already got Depp lined up for Pirates of the Caribbean 5 and Alice in Wonderland 2, which are like printing money.....right? Ehhhh.....
6. Monsters University- $10.6M/$237.8M
7. World War Z- $9.4M/$177.1M
8. White House Down- $6.15M/$63M
9. Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain- $5M/$26.4M
10. Man of Steel- $4.8M/$281M

The biggest debut of the week went to Ryan Coogler's Frutivale Station, which stars Michael B. Jordan as Oscar Grant, an African-American unjustly killed by cops in 2009. Opening with a massive $377K at only 7 locations for a $53K per site average, it's probable the film has seen a boost due to the similar Trayvon Martin case and the ongoing trial coverage.

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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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Geek Goodies: Johnny Depp as Tonto 7-Inch Action Figure

Johnny Depp's Tonto comes riding right into your home with this new 7-Inch action figure for Disney's The Lone Ranger! Authentically detailed in Depp's image as the Lone Ranger's Native American sidekick, this awesome figure features over 20 points of articulation and would make for a great display piece, right alongside your copy of The Lone Ranger when it his Blu-Ray. It can be yours right now for only $18.99 just by going here. And if you just can't imagine splitting up the vigilante duo, get the entire set right here for only $31.99 and save even more!

Click here to order yours now from our friends at Entertainment Earth. We appreciate the support you continue to show our sponsors. Punch Drunk Critics earns a small fee every time one of our readers buys from any of our links.

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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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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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*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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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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Uh oh. Disney's 'The Lone Ranger' facing another budget crisis

Disney just can't buy a break with anything outside of The Avengers, can they? Maybe they should just invest in superheroes and animated flicks from now on? It was last year that production on The Lone Ranger was halted due to a skyrocketing budget that was aiming north of $250M. Even with Johnny Depp in the role of Tonto, and his Pirates of the Caribbean helmer, Gore Verbinski teaming back up, there was no way to justify that amount of money. Disney did the right thing at the time, forcing Depp, Verbinski, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer to reconfigure the script and lower the budget down to a more manageable $215M. That got the job done, and production began in February.

Well, all seemed to be running smoothly....for awhile. THR reports that the budget is rapidly approaching the $250M level that scared Disney off to begin with, along with being behind on the schedule. Even with all the rewrites that took place to slash the cost, apparently it wasn't enough, and the script continues to be worked on. This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, as Verbinski has never been a director who knew how to stay within set limits. It was Disney who wanted to can his ass, but relented in order stay in Depp and Bruckheimer's good graces. Now they're facing a situation that sounds an awful lot like the lead up to the super expensive, box office dud that was John Carter.

Granted, not all of the budget overruns are on Verbinski's shoulders. The production was hit with a run of terrible weather, which caused a great deal of damage to many of the pricey set pieces. On the other hand, Verbinski's costly desire to build old timey locomotives from scratch is a major concern, since he could have used what was already had available. Disney wants many of these scenes cut in order to help keep the costs low, but it remains to be seen if that happens.

The hope is obviously that Depp and Co. can do for Westerns what they did for the swashbuckling genre in Pirates of the Caribbean. Disney has a decision to make here, and it isn't an easy one. The 'Pirates' films have grossed nearly $4B, so Disney knows the formula is a potentially lucrative one. But how much rope do they give Verbinski? If they pull the reins on him too tight, the movie might not be any good.  It's possible audiences may have Western fatigue after Djano Unchained opens this Christmas, and as we've seen a couple of times recently, Johnny Depp isn't quite as bankable outside of the Jack Sparrow persona. One thing that should be noted is what we learned last October, that if the production goes too far over budget, Bruckheimer will have to pay the difference. For that reason alone, Disney may be willing to let things slide and continue on as they are.

We'll see what happens. The Lone Ranger has another few months of filming to be completed. Assuming all goes well, we're supposed to see it next summer on July 3rd.

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1st look at Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer in 'The Lone Ranger'!

Now that all of Disney's budget fears over The Lone Ranger have been settled, and the majority of the cast back in place, it's time to just saddle up and get this thing done.  Re-teaming Johnny Depp with Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski(Pirates of the Caribbean), the film is of course based on the famous Texas Ranger turned gunslinger who fights injustice alongside his Native American sidekick, Tonto.

Bruckheimer has released via his Twitter account the first image of Depp and Hammer in the film, and the first thing that struck me is that Tonto just looks like Jack Sparrow with war paint. Even the scowl plastered all over his face is pure Sparrow, and it's immediately clear his relationship with the Ranger is going to be comically turbulent. Still, it's a very cool shot and should make for a nice poster later on.  Hammer definitely has the hero's triumphant, confident look down pat.

Co-starring Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson and Helena Bonham Carter, The Lone Ranger will ride into theaters on May 31st 2013!

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William Fichtner takes the villain role in 'The Lone Ranger'

William Fichtner? Kick ass actor. Period. There's never a time where his presence doesn't make a film better in some way, whether he's playing a cavalier demon accountant in Drive Angry, or desperate TV producer Phil Yagoda on Entourage, Fichtner is always good for a laugh. Now he'll put that talent to good use for Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp's big screen take on The Lone Ranger.

Just a couple of days ago we learned of Dwight Yoakem's departure from the film, leaving the role of bad guy Butch Cavendish wide open. Deadline reports that Fichtner will now step in to fill the void, and if you ask me it's definitely a lateral move. Both actors are best when playing someone a little bit off from everybody else, so this should be a lot of fun. 

Armie Hammer wears the mask of the Lone Ranger, but the story will be told mainly from the perspective of his Native American sidekick, Tonto, played by Depp.  Tom Wilkinson, James Badge Dale, Helena Bonham Carter, Barry Pepper, Ruth Wilson, and James Frain co-star. After a ton of delays, The Lone Ranger should be kicking into high gear shortly for a May 31st 2013 release.

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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.

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Casting Call sheet for The Lone Ranger reveals plot details

In the mad dash to make The Lone Ranger's budget easier to swallow for Disney, a lot of the film's planned supernatural elements had to be removed. Why a film based on the old west gunslinger would even have supernatural aspects is beyond me. Did these guys not see Jonah Hex?  Part of what reportedly got cut out of the Ted Elliott/Terry Rossio script when it was re-written by Justin Hayeth was a scene in which the masked vigilante would use his trademark silver bullets to fight off werewolves. Seriously.

A new casting call sheet for the film provides a brief plot synopsis and shows just how the story's been changed in the wake of the budget cuts...


Plot: Left for dead in an ambush with five other Texas Rangers, lawman John Reid (Armie Hammer) survives and is nursed back to health by an Indian scout named Tonto (Johnny Depp). He then dons a mask to avenge the murders of his comrades and to foil evildoers, never accepting payment for his services. His gratis vigilantism is made possible by the silver mine he inherits from his slain brothers - the same mine that affords him his endless supply of trademark silver bullets.

It also states that filming is set to take place in New Mexico from February 13th to July 14th 2012. The Lone Ranger is to be directed by Gore Verbinski(Rango), and stars Johnny Depp as Tonto, Armie Hammer as The Lone Ranger. Tom Wilkinson recently rejoined the film as villain as evil railroad tycoon, Latham Cole. Ruth Wilson, Helena Bonham Carter, Barry Pepper, Dwight Yoakem, and James Badge Dale are expected to make up the rest of the supporting cast. [ActingAudtions]

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Tom Wilkinson rejoins The Lone Ranger

One of the side effects of the delays that struck The Lone Ranger as Disney squashed the bloated production before putting it back on the schedule, is that a number of the in demand supporting cast had to find other stuff to do.  One of those was Tom Wilkinson, who had agreed to be part of the film back in June, but left when it looked like it would never get off the ground. Well now that all sides are happy and the ball is rolling again, Deadline reports that Wilkinson is back, and he may not be alone.


The film reunites the Pirates of the Caribbean team of star Johnny Depp, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and director Gore Verbinski in a reimagining of the famous gunslinger's adventures. Armie Hammer will play the masked hero, while Depp is his Native American sidekick, Tonto. Wilkinson will play Latham Cole, an evil railroad tycoon.

There are still other cast members who have yet to be brought back but are expected to return. Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, and Dwight Yoakem are part of that list. Helena Bonham Carter is probably the most important one, and it remains unclear if she'll come back or not. In recent weeks she's been circling a role in Warner Brothers' live-action Akira, just the other day stating that she hadn't made up her mind on what she'll do next.

The Lone Ranger is set to open on May 31st 2013.

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Disney skirts risk in The Lone Ranger deal

It's easy to understand why Disney might've been so eager to stay in the Johnny Depp business. Even his less regarded franchise flicks rake in loot hand over fist. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides took in over $1B globally, and the same can be said for Alice in Wonderland. Mixed reviews didn't stop people from ponying up their dollars, and that speaks mainly to Depp's box office reliability. When Disney scuttled plans for The Lone Ranger, which would've reunited the 'Pirates' trio of Depp, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Gore Verbinski, it came as a shock. Especially since Disney had been promoting the film based on Depp's name for at least two years.

The reasons given were simple: the film was costing too much. Reportedly well over $250M, and possibly more considering the free spending ways of Verbinski, Disney backed off unless things could be trimmed down. That included writer Justin Haythe cutting some of the more expensive story elements, and the three principle figures taking a pay cut. Last month the two sides came to an agreement after the budget was moderately reduced to around $215M. Apparently that wasn't all of the story.


Bruckheimer, Depp, Verbinski, and co-star Armie Hammer saw a 20% reduction in their usual fees. I'm sure they can afford it, and Hammer was probably willing to be part of a potentially star-making franchise. The most interesting bit of information revolves around Verbinski. He has a reputation for going wildly over budget, and Disney has insulated themselves from that very real possibility. If the cost goes over the agreed upon amount, the overrun will be covered by Bruckheimer, not Disney. Shrewd move, Mouse House.

With production getting bumped from November to next February, all sides are planning a move from the original December 21st 2012 release date. No word on when that'll be, but considering the players involved expect it to be near the summer of 2013. Just my guess. [Variety]

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