It’s not often that a film gets far enough that it’s been announced, a logo released and special appearances made about the movie and then gets shut down. It’s even rarer that it would happen with a movie starring one of the world’s biggest movie actors, and with an A-list producer and director. However that’s what’s happened with The Lone Ranger.
Walt Disney Pictures has halted production on Gore Verbinski’s Western adaptation of Lone Ranger, which was due to start shooting in October with Armie Hammer as the title character and Johnny Depp as Tonto. According to THR, it was shut down due to the movie’s ballooning budget, which it’s been reported has grown to $250 million.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer managed to get the budget down to $232 million, but Disney wanted it at $200 million even, and wouldn’t go above that number. The studio was nervous about the movie costing so much due to the fact it’s a western, especially as Cowboys & Aliens hasn’t become the hit many had hoped. The studio also has potentially risky and very expensive projects like John Carter and Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great and Powerful on its roster, and Lone Ranger may have been one risk too far for them – especially as some of their other recent big budget movies, such as Tron: Legacy and Prince Of Persia, haven’t performed to expectations.
Some feel the move may be a ploy in a behind-the-scenes battle between Verbinski, Bruckheimer and the studio. Millions have already been spent on the movie during pre-production and Depp’s salary will have to be paid whether the movie gets made or not, so it would be in the studio’s interest to make it. However it’s said the producer and director had refused to cut the budget any further, and so some suggest Disney made this movie to try and force their hand.
It is suprising it’s happened though as the trio of Depp, Verbinski and Bruckheimer have made the studio billions with the Pirates franchise, and Depp still hasn’t officially signed on for a fifth Pirates adventure yet (and as Lone Ranger was a pet project of his, it may affect his decision). However the studio seems to think the risk is too great.
Lone Ranger could move to another studio, or it may still get made by Disney, but that wouldn’t happen for a while yet and probably for a lot less money.