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EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: I’m hearing that Disney has set The Lone Ranger to start production February 6, 2012. That re-establishes one of the most intriguing examples of a star-driven film that was unplugged because of high budget and put back together in a way that gives the studio a chance to recoup its costs. Though The Lone Ranger has arguably the world’s most bankable movie star in Johnny Depp, it also is a Western, which (as evidenced by the lackluster performance of Cowboys & Aliens), doesn’t as a genre do strong business overseas. I expect this to be formalized by tomorrow.
EARLIER EXCLUSIVE, October 11, 4:38 PM: Well, it took a week longer than I thought it would, but Disney has finally reached a meeting of the minds on The Lone Ranger with director Gore Verbinski, Johnny Depp and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The studio is expected to formalize a new start date imminently and announce it is moving forward and putting Depp back in the saddle as Tonto, with Armie Hammer as the title character. It looked like the studio was going to announce last week when the picture brightened for the film, but it will be this week’s business instead. I don’t think Disney was able to salvage its December 21 release date because production won’t start in New Mexico until early next year.
The original plan was to begin shooting this fall. That was until, as Deadline revealed on August 12, the studio shockingly pulled the plug on a project it feared could come in at between $250 million-$275 million. The risk of such a figure on a Western became more glaring after Cowboys & Aliens had just turned in a severely disappointing domestic gross, to be followed by an even worse offshore performance, proving the adage that most Westerns don’t travel well. Cowboys & Aliens will be a costly money-loser, 50% shouldered by DreamWorks and the other half split between Universal and Relativity Media. On Lone Ranger, there has been a lot of behind-the-scenes drama as the three principal players made concessions in their deals, and worked on the script to salvage the spectacle that made the movie worth making in the first place while bringing the budget down to a more manageable figure in the $215 million range. It wasn’t pleasant, but Disney now has its original team behind the first three Pirates of the Caribbean blockbusters back together for a movie that’s expensive but at least will allow production chiefs Sean Bailey and Rich Ross the opportunity to sleep at night. Developing…
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215 million dollars for a Western. What is the world coming to…
How much will this fiasco have to make to be a worthwhile expenditure?
Will people really come out in droves to see Depp do his Pirates histrionics in a sidekick role? And even if he’s not the sidekick, the masses will think he is from their knowledge of the title.
And as to this title– it has very little currency. I’m 40. I could care less about The Lone Ranger. My kids could care less. For that matter my parents said they wouldn’t see this, either. So who’s gonna go?
I was about to post your first sentence almost verbatim.
Can ANYONE with any specific knowledge of this project explain how a Western without aliens could cost this much? If it’s a salary issue, couldn’t some of those be scaled down in lieu of first dollar gross offerings?
Is this HEAVEN’S GATE in the Old West?
Can I still use a HEAVEN’S GATE reference?
I’m just confused…
Rumor has it it that it’s big action sequences involving trains.
Apparently it’s going to be very similar to the Pirates franchise in that it will heavily feature supernatural elements, so i assume that’s where the money is being spent. Another genre bending experiment, and i can’t see Tonto being as likeable as Jack Sparrow, this is bound to lose money.
Tonto is going to be front and center, and believe it or not, the movie is going to be Tonto and the Lone Ranger fighting werewolves.
Because of the silver bullets, you see.
Yes, Hollywood is apparently that stupid.
Half empty, Thats your opinion! I love westerns and thats my opinion. I am willing to bet that this could be another winning franchise knowing who will be a part of it.
Half full
me!
The flick should be made to teach a lesson, when made in the high desert of southern Oregon, it will be accurate as well. There are others but you must contact me for the story lines. Use the platform to promote the authentic cowboys story. Accuracy in historic representation for the kids sake. Get it Mr. Man
Historic accuracy & a Fort with cheap authentic labor. Move the production to the economically depressed areas of the native lands. Promote them and they will promote you.
Happy Trails Sir
Before Pirates of the Caribbean, pirate films didn’t do well. If anyone is going to bring back the Western, it’ll be this trio.
Last time I checked, True Grit did gross $150 million domestic…..also, 3:10 to Yuma and Open Range did well at the box office….however, I think of all those 3:10 to Yuma was the most expensive at $50 million, so why this needs to be $215 million is mind boggling. It seems that westerns do good if they’re aimed at traditional audiences, without some hip modern “twist” or “reimagining”….just look at American Outlaws, or Texas Rangers, or Cowboys and Aliens, or Jonah Hex…..they don’t seem to learn, do they?
True Grit cost $80mil, I believe.
Hi-Ho Werewolves! Away!
clearly you have never seen the lone ranger or know anything of it . werewolves indeed…… you need to get back to your twlight sagas little girl
You need to be a little more sure of who has and hasn’t already read the script before you assume you know better.
The poster’s point was that this movie is going to be about werewolves. Not a joke.
$215 million? After Jonah Hex?! And mind you, I *liked* Jonah Hex.
That budget needs to be cut by at least 50%.
Ok Rob J.,explain to us how you would cut the budget my 50%.
I can figure out a way to cut this budget 100%.
Well, craft service alone on a Bruckheimer pic could fund some Third World countries.
Better yet, Rob J., explain how you liked JONAH HEX. Yikes.
You liked Jonah Hex? Enough said…
Not to mention, how dare you compare Jonah Hex to a potential Depp, Verbinski, Bruckheimer collaboration, you should be ashamed of yourself.
No, YOU should be ashamed of yourself. You don’t even know if the film’s going to be any good, and already you’re putting it on some pedestal. See the movie, THEN make a judgment.
I haven’t seen much mention of this regarding The Lone Ranger, but the property could do lot to revive the Frontierland section of the theme parks.
Good point. Decisions made at the studio are done so to maximize all internal revenue streams. You wanna make great content obviously, but you also wanna make content that fills a unique niche in your existing portfolio.
#TronIsKindaTomorrowLand
That seems like a steep price. Aside from the POTC films, I just don’t think Johnny has the draw he once did.
Alice in Wonderland.
Johnny was NOT the draw for ALICE. Are you being serious? It was made up of two well-known stories, and the trailers were great. Depp was just a bonus. If you’ve seen the movie, he’s not in it that much, really. I don’t think grossing over $1B was due to Johnny Depp.
Are YOU being serious? You just made my point. He was barely in the movie and yet the film was marketed around his Mad Hatter character. He was the draw.
Aside from POTC? POTC is what MADE Johnny a draw. Alice in Wonderland cleared $1 billion worldwide ($334 mil domestic). Every actor has hits and misses, but Depp was never a huge draw before Pirates… now he is.
People say that 215 is too high, but I would rather give money to Verbinski and see the results than see some craptastic Transformers. I was blown away by Rango, evolution of animation definitely.
I agree that Transformers is bad storytelling.
I also agree that this could be a good or at least entertaining film.
I just don’t think 215 million dollars (pre-marketing) is smart, or fiscally responsible, or even necessary.
If the cost is built into CGI monsters and the like, then we are back into C&Aliens, WWWest, and Jonah Hex territory— which all bombed.
Westerns, even funky ones, can be successful— if they stick to classic storytelling: tough men, black hats, white hats, gun battles, revenge, etc. No need for Depp in Pirates over-the-top clown mode. No need for aliens or werewolf vampires from Cybertron. No need for 215 million budget.
Hell, the last 3 Pirates movies were craptastic. Rango was meh. Sometimes less is more…
this will be about marketing and disney must start now to build a brand for the movie. disney has the consumer base with Pirates, so it can be done.
Well said!
Well said, Time Traveler!!!!!!
Does anyone know if the $215 million is the negative cost or the whole kit and caboodle? If, as I suspect, just the former, then I’m shaking my head in disbelief, envious none of it is coming my way and seriously doubting the wisdom on this one. Shouldn’t it be a tale of two guys on horseback?
DISNEY BELIEVE THAT THE MOVIE STARRING JOHNNY DEPP WILL MAKE IT A HIT. IT WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE IF THE FILM WILL HAVE THE JOHNNY DEPP FAN IN IT. I GOT A FEELING THAT I WILL BUY THE DVD WHEN IT FINALLY COME OUT. I GOT A FEELING THAT THE ANTI-NON INDIAN ACTOR PLAYING A AMERICAN NATIVE ROLE WILL CAUSE ALOT OF UPROAR. GOOD LUCK TO THE LONE RANGER AND TONITO MOVIE. YOUR TRULY CHARLES DAVID HASKELL
Depp is part Indian, so there will be no uproar. Nice try Mr. Caps Lock.
I am part Native, White and African, so does that mean I can play John Kennedy, Geronimo and President Obama (who I resemble more)? Depp admits he does not even know what tribe his ancestors are supposed to be from and he looks white and IDs himself that way. They could have found an excellent Native American actor, they do exist. Just not feeling it.
If an actor can’t play another person, what’s the point?
When the actor is too old for the part these two were boy hood friends.
Lots of folks made a stink when Roger Moore played 007 at 57 in
A View to A Kill. BTW Sir Roger will be 84 Friday 10/14/11 bless him.
Well, to be fair, a lot of people with Native American ancestry don’t know what tribe their ancestors are from due to they’re not being on the rolls, etc. But I agree with you – I would have much rather seen them give the opportunity to a young up-and-coming Native American actor. Unfortunately Depp’s name is the draw and they’re going to let him do pretty much whatever he wants. Plus the studios don’t want to take the risk of casting an unknown.
Johnny IS Native American.. I am not pleased when people tend to talk about him like he is not…
Doesn’t the fact that these three have absolutely conquered films & television collectively? At least I’m gonna wait for a trailer to judge.
I completely agree. With all the negative comments going around about this film, some which I agree with, some which I don’t, I can’t say for sure what to expect until the trailer is released. Once I see it, then I’ll know for sure if I’ll be passing on this one or not. I’m crossing my fingers they make it awesome, but not holding my breathe…if that makes any sense.
I am surprised they are still electing to shoot in New Mexico. Given the rolling $50 million cap on the incentive credits, it will be years before Disney ever get them issued. And then they have to sell them, given their tax liability is next to nothing in New Mexico.
Why people think runway production is about lower taxes in other states always amazes me–they don’t pay taxes in other states people! They sell the credits to people in the particular state who do. I suppose the reasons could be creative for New Mexico, but I can think of almost no films where creative concerns trump economics anymore. Even Tom Sawyer passed on incentive rich states in the US South to exploit the slave labor and regulation-free Bulgaria. Mark Twain, I am sure, would be thrilled. Make that Marc Tvain.
The New Mexico incentives are not issued as a credit. They are a rebate – which means the state writes the production a check directly. Because the rebate will be larger than $5M, Diseny will get paid out over three years in equal installments, which means they’ll likely have 2/3 of their rebate when the film hits theaters. Furthermore, Disney can cash flow production at such a low intrest rate that the time frame for payment is of almost no consequence. All this plus NM’s landscape and proximity to Hollywood makes the choice to film there a no brainer for Disney.
All this speculation and second guessing. How about hearing from someone who has read the script. Clearly there are set pieces and an overall approach to the material that makes it more than just a typical dusty western.
I tend to agree that if anyone could make this work, it would be this team.
You read the script? You’re so special! give me a break.
Heaven’s Gate and Cowboy’s & Aliens are two financial busts. Wild Wild West underperformed. What was the last successful western – True Grit for a quarter the budget? Unforgiven?
Back To The Future Part III?
The first (and only?) financially successful western scifi mash-up!
I’m looking forward to see Johnny Depp playing Tonto. Loved him in The Brave and since he’s native american I know he’ll be great as Tonto. Ive been waiting on production to start on this movie a long time. I believe with the director,producer and the worlds greatest Johnny Depp it can’t lose. Disney knows the have a winner in this.
Hi-yo profit, away!
DEPP, DEPP Give me a break hes only playing Tonto ( a bad choice anyway bit too old) not the title role
Let’s just remember that pirate movies (80s/90s) failed at the box office until the release of Curse of the Black Pearl. Now, it’s a multi-billion dollar franchise. Let’s just wait and see, but my money’s on Depp. If all from the original Pirates movies are involved (Verbinski, Bruckheimer, Depp, Zimmer, etc), it should definitely be one heck of a ride!
I for one am happy this film is getting made. Now it is just about saving jobs and not just about entertaining the public. All the big guns here realize they aren’t the ones suffering if this film doesn’t get made it is the other people behind the scenes involved trying to feed their families. I have been in the hair and beauty industry for over 20 years and would be willing to work on a project such as this at a reduced salary in order to save other jobs. If others would give selflessly it could save jobs for many less fortunate.
It’s not “just a western.” Think what you will of Pirates, but there is nothing like the world that this team creates. That’s what this movie is. So, yeah, to justify 215 million for something like TRUE GRIT would be ridiculous, but that is just a western-a great movie-but a western. This is going to be something that looks like nothing anyone has seen before and that costs dough. I’m not even one that get excited for tentpoles, but I’m excited for this and there is a market for it and this team can’t be compared to others as far as making money.
I still don’t understand how this movie can cost over $200 million. Cowboys/Aliens cost less and it had to pay for Spielberg, Howard, Grazer, Favreau, Ford, and Craig as well as, you know, aliens.
And I still don’t understand who had the great idea that werewolves were the great new angle to hang this on (and who at Disney let them move forward with that). I wish them the best of luck.
When factoring in marketing and how much the studio has to give to the theaters, this movie WILL NOT make a profit.
Maybe by the film’s opening, UltraViolet will have become Old Media’s new boon, just like DVDs once were… So the studios won’t be dependent on theaters again.
I am not excited about this. and I don’t care how well POTC had done. Johnny has lost his whatever he had years ago. Like he said in his recent interview.. It is all about how much money they are willing to give him.
I will wait to see how Rum Diary does. It seems audiences only want to see him as some cartoonish character. I want to see if a real Johnny can pull an audience.