Gore Verbinski’s take on The Lone Ranger rides into theaters on December 21, 2012, according to H’wood. The film stars Armie Hammer as the Lone Ranger, and Johnny Depp as Tonto, that Verbinski describes as “a sort of Don Quixote told from Sancho Panza’s point of view.”
December 2012 will be a busy month for movie goers as The Lone Ranger will be released around the same time as The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and Life of Pi.
Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment. You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...
6 Comments
“…and Johnny Depp as Tonto”.
I have nothing against Depp. I understand that he is currently THE most bankable actor. I understand that money drives everything, and Depp is a draw. And I have no doubt of his acting abilities.
But c’mon, man! Where’s the rational thought in making him TONTO? Even the 1949-57 TV series used an actual Native American to play Tonto:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Silverheels
So much for being more evolved than our predecessors. Maybe Clooney or Pitt will be interested in bringing back the Charlie Chan franchise.
…Let me be clear: I’m not saying whites can’t play roles that were originally nonwhite. Races can be switched IF racial or ethnic identity is not crucial to the character or story.
Sam Jackson can play Nick Fury in the Avengers movie realm because in that universe, he simply doesn’t HAVE to be the same guy as in the 616 continuity. Race doesn’t essentially change who Nick Fury is in the Marvel Movies. Yes, they will have to account for segregation and Jim Crow if they make Sam Jackson’s character a WWII veteran like in the 616. But as far as when we meet him in Iron Man I, that version of Nick Fury is not contingent upon race. Well, not unless you subscribe to the unfortunately popular notion that snarling, “badass mofos” must always be African American, bald and portrayed by Sam Jackson.
Speaking of badasses…Idris Elba opening the Bifrost Bridge was alright by me because it’s not a stretch to say in the Marvel Movie universe, Asgardians come in all hues (ruled by those with white skin, of course).
However, Magneto must be played by a guy who looks like a Jewish Holocaust survivor regardless of the actor’s actual ethnicity. That’s a defining characteristic of the character. Likewise, Tonto is Tonto BECAUSE he is a native American, the Indian sidekick with insights to the terrain and nature that only a native could have (because the undying Hollywood meme is that nonwhites are so mystical…so “other”).
The concept of Tonto is so intertwined with his ethnicity (and status as a second class citizen) that despite having a sidekick, the hero’s name is the ‘Lone’ Ranger. Tonto’s companionship doesn’t even compute. He has Tonto riding with him, but nobody thinks, “Hey, that ranger is not alone, Tonto is with him all the time”. That, my friends, is a definitive example of a character being defined by his ethnicity.
Would it have been so bad to cast a (good) actor of Native American descent? Since they didn’t, I hope the script (rather than tinted makeup) will address this Tonto being white.
“a sort of Don Quixote told from Sancho Panza’s point of view.”
So… the Lone Ranger is going to be presented as a delusional kook?
If moviemakers are going to recycle old radio and TV shows rather than come up with something new and original, can they at least NOT take huge dump on the original material?
Oh, boy. This sounds like a bomb in the making. Just from the description, it sounds like Disney doesn’t have the slightest notion of what the Lone Ranger story was all about. “Don Quixote” my foot! Does anybody else remember the abortion that was the Lone Ranger movie that was inflicted upon us in the early 80s? This sounds like more of the same! And Johnny Dep as Tonto? Gimmee a break! Though I can understand why no self-respecting Native American actor would want to touch the role. I mean, “Tonto” means “Fool”! Why don’t they just throw away all pretext and make a “Little Black Sambo” movie?
My favorite “Lone Ranger” joke: The Lone Ranger and Tonto are surrounded by a war party of angry Apaches. They are running low on ammunition as the Indians close in for the kill.
“It looks like we’ve come to the end of the trail, Tonto.” the Lone Ranger says, sadly.
“What do you mean ‘WE’, paleface?” Tonto replies.
I had no idea “Tonto” means “fool”. Wow, that’s hard to fathom.
OUCH- The release date is the same date that the world will end (according to that whole Mayan thingy anyway). Guess no sequel at least.