Hi-ho, Silver! "The Lone Ranger" is back in the saddle.
We knew Disney wouldn't let a little thing like "money" keep it from going forward with the new adventures of the masked avenger and his sidekick, Tonto. Apparently, the budget issues that made the studio pull the plug on the project last month have been resolved, according to Deadline.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski performed a major overhaul on "The Lone Ranger" to bring the budget down to $215 million. This is seemingly enough of a cut to make Disney happy, as the studio had feared the budget could reach $250 million or more.
The process has included reworking the deals for Verbinski, Bruckheimer and Johnny Depp, toning down some of the spectacle and cutting some of the shooting days.
Hmm... when Disney doesn't have faith in even Johnny Depp to bring in the box office any more, something is definitely amiss. We're just glad it all worked out, 'cause we definitely want to see what this team comes up with in bringing the classic character into the 21st century -- especially if he's being played by Armie Hammer.
Production is scheduled to commence on "The Lone Ranger" in January or February; we doubt the late start will allow the film to keep its original projected release date of Dec. 21, 2012. Guess it's Hi-ho, Summer 2013 for "The Lone Ranger!"
