The Lone Ranger just can't seem to keep things on track. The project has had a notably bumpy ride through production so far, complete with production shut downs, budget queries, and adjustments to the shooting schedule. The movie was originally going to come on in December of this year and was pushed back to May 31, 2013. Now it looks like the film is on the move again, as it has been pushed back by about a month.
The Exhibitor Relations Twitter account has revealed that The Lone Ranger, has been shiftedfrom May 31, 2013 to July 3, 2013. What's interesting about the news is that its taking over the slot that was just abandoned by Steven Spielberg's Robopocalypse and will now be competing against Independence Day 3D, which was just announced this afternoon. It's only other competition on the holiday weekend right now comes from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's Despicable Me 2. While the Gore Verbinski-directed movie originally had no competition on May 31st, its release date was only one week after both The Hangover: Part III and Fast and Furious 6.
Based on a script written by Ted Elliott, Justin Haythe and Terry Rossio and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, The Lone Ranger stars Armie Hammer as the titular hero, Johnny Depp as Tonto, Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Wilkinson, James Badge Dale, William Fichtner, and Barry Pepper. The film is still currently in production.
I'm really hoping that this movie is purely strategy and not an indication that the movie is falling behind schedule or in some kind of trouble. Guess we'll have to wait until July of next year to find out the motivation.
