As has been expected for more than a week, The Lone Ranger is back on. Disney has agreed to move the project forward, with Gore Verbinski directing, Jerry Bruckheimer producing, and Johnny Depp starring.
The Lone Ranger was put on hold after the studio expressed concerns over the budget of $275 million. This was considered too high a price for a western, especially after Cowboys and Aliens tanked rather badly.
According to Deadline, all parties have now come back together after agreeing to a new budget of $215 million, which increases the chances of breaking even while still keeping enough in the kitty for the elements which Disney hopes will make The Lone Ranger worth making and worth seeing.
It doesn’t seem all that much of a drop to me, in movie-making terms. And The Lone Ranger is still going to be one helluva expensive cowboy flick. Then again Johnny Depp is playing Tonto, so I’m in right from the start. And I suspect enough other people also will be to mean this turns a healthy profit.
