Johnny Depp As Tonto

Rodney 33 Comments

Lone-Ranger-And-Tonto

We have received word that Johnny Depp will be playing Tonto in the upcoming Lone Ranger movie. We get the scoop from Mr. Tapley at InContentiono:

It turns out Depp will be playing Tonto in “The Lone Ranger,” not the hero himself.

The news has broken out of the Kodak Theater during a Disney event this afternoon and is slowly trickling its way through the web.

Last night Tapley emailed me asking what I thought of Depp as the Lone Ranger. I mulled it over, considered the man and thought to myself “I wish he was Tonto.” Well this morning the news has been clarified, and Mr. Depp is in fact going to be playing the Lone Ranger’s sidekick.

Not sure yet who will be playing the masked rider. I think Aaron Eckhart may be a good choice – what about you guys?

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33 thoughts on “Johnny Depp As Tonto”

  3. I wish Disney was not involved and Rob Zombie was. I would like to see the Lone Ranger battle sinister villians. Imagine Devil Rejects type of villians killing the lone ranger fimily and him seeking revenge when he got older.

  5. Okay, Native American’s that act would like to be cast in other things besides Native American roles. How about the leading lady roles for some of our beautiful women besides roles like Pocahontas or Sacajawea, or for the handsome hunky men, leading roles besides Sitting Bull or Geronimo. (With all due respect to those aformentioned heroes and heroines.) Look at the talent in Wes Studi, Adam Beach, Russell Means, etc. If the actor or actress is good and can fill the role, let them act! Johnny Depp is Cherokee and Navajo (as I’ve been reading) and is very talented. Let him act the role… As the Lakota say… “Mitaku Oyasin” We are all related!!

  7. @Ransom…

    I understand why you say “Modern Day Harrison Ford” because of his role in Firefly. But have you watched the other stuff he is in?

    He is not at all Harrison Ford-esque and is very much more of a Bruce Campbell type. Watch “Slither” and you will see exactly what I mean. Hell, watch anything but Firefly and Serenity and you will see exactly what I mean.

  8. I dont know why Depp would want this role as sidekick. I mean did any of you actually watch the old Lone Ranger series? The speaking parts for Tonto were pretty few and far between, not to mention his monotone monologue. Unless they turn Tonto’s part into a more equal partnership Depp is wasted on the role.

    I have heard so many rumors about Lone Ranger casting, I still dont know what to believe. I am a great admirer of Bruce Campbell, but I don’t see this as a role for him. For one, he is to old and portly now. He would have to get in some serious shape and I just dont know if that would be enough, The Lone Ranger character is, and has always been a very fit, younger character in his prime. I see it as someone in there mid to late twenties.

    Just my thoughts.

  11. @Darren J. Seeley

    01. It’s Disney, right.? Maybe it will be that, they cast Jim Carrey as the Lone Ranger and he is a bumpling idiot and Tonto (Depp) always has to save him and get him out of trouble. (a movie I would def. pass on seeing myself)

    @Jonathan
    Bruce is an awesome choice, but isn’t he a bit old for that role now. How about settle for “the lesser Bruce”, “the modern day Bruce”… Mr. Nathan Fillion.

    @Mikey
    for the sake of …

    Political correctness (adjectivally, politically correct; both forms commonly abbreviated to PC) is a term applied to language, ideas, policies, or behavior seen as seeking to minimize offense to gender, racial, cultural, disabled, aged or other identity groups.
    (special thanks to our friends over at the Wikipedia.)

  12. Johnny Depp as Tonto.
    Hmmm……

    Sorry. Don’t see it.
    That’s not because he isn’t a good enough actor.
    It’s not because he has Native American in him.
    It’s because he’s Johnny Depp and Tonto is the monotone sidekick to Lone Ranger.

    Unless…and folks are going to hate me like hell…one of the four happen:

    1) In a bizarre twist, Tonto IS The Lone Ranger [why the mask?] That’s right. That’s not an error. The Lone Ranger is actually an alias/myth created by Tonto because as Tonto he gets no respect from white society thus no justice. If he goes after bad guys as Tonto, he risks being branded a savage. Wear a mask as a lawman/vigilante? Getting a badge?

    2) The Lone Ranger himself is not the main hero/ Ranger and Tonto are equals. In fact, in loose relation to my suggestion above, Ranger may become in the film, a half breed for adaptations sake.

    {{The Seeler strongly suggests nobody throw tomato juice at thier respected ‘puter screens at this time}}

    3) Tonto is the true hero; The Ranger is HIS sidekick-and gets all the freaking glory.

    4) The Lone Ranger is played by Clint Eastwood.

  17. Make sure you cite wikipedia next time. All I was saying is who cares if they match the ethnicity, culture, lifestyle choice, et al, as long as they do a good job acting. That’s what is so great about movies you don’t need to cast that way. And how’d you know about my peg leg?

  20. @Mikey

    Not to beat you into the ground. But at the same time, to beat you into the ground… you never mentioned Norse Vikings until your Pirate rebuttle. Pirates and Vikings are different things. And not all Norse were Vikings… so, uh, kinda a choice… although you could just say that they were born into the lifestyle I guess…. but,

    Norse is an adjective relating things to Norway, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Sweden. To refer to the modern people or culture of Norway, “Norwegian” is used.

    The etymology of the adjective “norse” is somewhat surprising, as one would expect it to have entered the English language through either the already present native stem “north” or via a Scandinavian language. Yet “Norse,” which entered English in 1598, derives from the Dutch word “noors”, the adjective form of “Norwegian”. The Scandinavian equivalent of the word is norrøn, or norrön (Icelandic: norræn). The modern English form (which sounds almost identical to the Dutch term) may be used in a number of ways.

    just sayin’.

  21. @Mikey

    Plus, The Colin Farrell American accent thing? How does that fit into any of this? He’s European. Europeans founded the U.S.A. What’s your point exactly?

    Because I have no problem with people who aren’t citizens of the U.S. being cast as Americans as long as they can do the accent. He’s a cauccasion male. I wouldn’t cast him to play the role of an African American woman.

    …And I’d be totally cool with only gay people playing gay characters. That’s a good Idea that you have.

  23. I just hope the soundtrack has a spaghetti western style riff on the William Tell Overture. Played slow at first, almost twangy, and then kicking into high gear with multiple guitars played in concert. That’d be sweet.

    But I’m cool with Nagy’s choice of Aaron Eckhardt (“think about the future!”). He did the tortured white knight thing well in the Batman sequel, and this would be a good star vehicle turn for him.

    Ain’t It Cool News claims to be hearing George Clooney’s name tossed around very vocally for the lead. He’d probably do it, but I think he’d be terrible. He’s too wooden, too old, and unless he’s in some left-wing think piece that aims to shed light on America’s sins, he doesn’t so much as act as smile and wink at the camera in a kind of self-assured arrogance and charm.

  24. @ask any gay guy if they chose to be gay. did you (assuming you are heterosexual) choose to be straight? I stand by the analogy. And sure pirate these days is a choice but the Norse Vikings were not. Again stick by it. And the point still stands. Why is it relevant that they have to be the ethnicty they are portraying? Should Colin Ferrel stop doing acting jobs where he has an american accent? no

  25. @Mikey

    It was an observational question. Being a Pirate is a lifestyle/occupational choice. Being of a certain Ethnic origin isn’t. So, that’s a bad analogy.

    Also, since he does have Native American Heritage I have no problem with it. Already stated that. I have Native American Blood. I think that when the Americas were initially invaded by the Europeans that they took enough from the Native American people. I just think that Indians should be played by Indians. Just sayin’. Every ethnicity for that matter. Just my opinion.
    —————————————————–
    Lastly, I hope that they do a good solid serious action/drama/western rather than anything that has comedic elements to it with this story. I want classic PULP style two-fisted, gun blazing, horse chasin’ fuckin’ action and suspense.

  26. i’m still up in the air. i think that depp is a great actor but i would have to see the direction the film takes ie one sheets trailers etc in order to see why he would take a project like this. all he has to do now it be a ninja and he will officially a pirate, indian, and ninja aka the coolest dude ever.

    as for lone ranger? ive liked eckhart since thank you for smoking so im on board with whatever he does. and yes i think he would make a sweet cap.

  29. Was he part pirate too? Who cares! as long as he plays the role well it shouldnt matter. Was Robin Williams gay when he played in the birdcage? No. Thats why its acting. Now as far as Tonto and Depp I am totally for any type of comic relief character. He always nails it!

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