From now on it may be easy to track which role Johnny Depp will take on next by simply looking at the upcoming slates for both Tim Burton and Gore Verbinski, since it seems Depp is perfectly happy bouncing between the two for the remainder of his career (with the exception of a random film here and there, like The Tourist).
While Depp finishes up Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (for another director, we should mention), and readies for his role in Tim Burton's Dark Shadows movie, news has arrived online claiming Depp's original Pirates director, Gore Verbinski, may join the long-delayed Lone Ranger movie as its director. Depp and Verbinski have already teamed up since the third Pirates movie, and that was on Verbinski's upcoming animated movie Rango (Depp voices the lead character). Now, though, they'd be teaming on a live-action movie based on the iconic characters featured in the old TV show.
Depp is apparently set to star as Tonto, the Lone Ranger's partner, which is surprising since Depp seems more like a leading man. Early rumors suggested George Clooney would play the Lone Ranger, though those rumors have since died a slow death. Should Verbinski take on the project with plans to shoot after Depp is done with Dark Shadows, then look for more casting announcements to come along in the next couple months.
Who do you think should play the Lone Ranger, opposite Johnny Depp?
