Back when Gore Verbinski’s The Lone Ranger was going through its financial struggles and the production was put on hold, one casualty was Tom Wilkinson, who exited the project to pursue various other roles. Now that Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer are back on the same page, however, Wilkinson is circling his wagons and showing interest in rejoining Ranger before shooting begins.
Wilkinson is “closing in on a deal” to play Latham Cole, the film’s chief villain, according to Deadline. He’s not the only one waiting to sign, however. In an effort to keep Verbinski’s train rolling, so to speak, the studio needs to complete deals with Barry Pepper, Helena Bonham Carter, James Badge Dale and Dwight Yoakam, though their specific roles are unclear at this time.
What we do know is that J. Edgar and Social Network star Armie Hammer is on the hook to play the Lone Ranger, while Verbinski and Bruckheimer staple Johnny Depp has agreed to play trusted sidekick Tonto. Deadline also says that Ranger is going after Luther star Ruth Wilson for the female lead. I wonder if there’s going to be an uncomfortable love triangle between the leading heroes in this formulaic blockbuster?
Verbinski’s Lone Ranger begins filming in February, aiming for a May 31, 2013 release date. Wilkinson, meanwhile, can be seen opposite Tom Cruise in Brad Bird’s Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol, which reaches IMAX theaters on Dec. 16 and expands everywhere else on Dec. 21.
