Depp Signs for Pirates 4, Tonto in ‘Lone Ranger’

Published by Jeff Leins on September 27, 2008

At the Disney keynote event this week, Johnny Depp was announced for several key roles in upcoming projects for the Mouse House.

Earlier this week I wrote about his casting as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.

Disney also briefly announced a fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise with Depp of course back as Captain Jack Sparrow.  No details were given about the story or the characters, but Keira Knightley has already said many times she is done with the franchise and will not return as Elizabeth.  Where are they going to find another beautiful, thin woman in Hollywood?

This seems to be inching closer to the “science fiction” rumors in June 2007 about future Pirates movies.

Disney announced more on the Lone Ranger project, saying Depp has been cast as Tonto, his Native American sidekick.  Ranger will be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the big-budget man behind the Pirates movies.

As for the Lone Ranger himself, no casting announcements have been made yet, but the rumor right now is George Clooney will wear the mask.  Though they’ll have to figure out how to put rubber nipples on the Ranger outfit.