'Pirates 4', 'Lone Ranger' & more in store at Disney

[ALIASd]

Posted: Wed., Sep. 24, 2008, 2:43pm PT

Disney, Depp return to 'Caribbean'

Actor also signs on for 'Ranger,' 'Wonderland'



Depp

By Marc Graser
Variety

Johnny Depp is the main man at the Mouse House.

Depp has agreed to reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in a fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" pic and play Tonto in a bigscreen adaptation of "The Lone Ranger," both produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. He will also star as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s version of "Alice in Wonderland."

The roles come after Depp helped Disney earn a combined $2.6 billion at the box office with the three pics in the "Pirates" franchise, also produced by Bruckheimer.

"Alice in Wonderland," skedded for 2010, will be shot using 3-D and performance capture technology similar to that used for "Beowulf."

Depp’s casting deals closed a full day Wednesday at the Kodak Theater, where Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook touted the Mouse’s upcoming slate of pics during a showcase event for exhibitors, media and other industry insiders.

Toons provided the company’s other big news.

Cook called the upcoming pics for the rest of this year and 2009 "the most creative slate of films in Disney history" and showed sequences from "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," "Bedtime Stories," "Race to Witch Mountain," "Hannah Montana: The Movie," "Old Dogs," "The Princess and the Frog," Robert Zemeckis’ "A Christmas Carol" and Pixar’s next pic, "Up."

Entertainment news, movie reviews, awards, festivals, celebrity photos, industry events - Variety

[Aladdin]

Yay! Another movie (or might it be 3?) for Captain Jack Sparrow!

[Mr. Yeti]

Glad to hear about Pirates 4. Although him as Tonto is a little surprising.

[haunted_hottie]

Originally Posted by Mr. Yeti

Glad to hear about Pirates 4. Although him as Tonto is a little surprising.

I have to agree that Depp playing Tonto is odd, but he does have the right facial structure for it. Just have to wait and see...

Hooray for the next Pirates movie! I'm a fan of all 3 and I really enjoy the characters and the plot, so I'm ready for the next adventure.

[blondiethesounds]

Originally Posted by haunted_hottie

I have to agree that Depp playing Tonto is odd, but he does have the right facial structure for it. Just have to wait and see...

Has Depp ever played a role that didnt fit him? I honestly cant think of one...

Hooray for another Tim Burton re-creation!!!!

GO PIRATES 4!!!!!!

[Grumpy38]

Call me crazy, but as much as I LOVE him as captain Jack. The Mad Hatter role could be AMAZING for him as well!

[Ride Monkey]

I think he would bring a unique spin on Tonto, like he always does. I have faith.

[mark]

Can't wait for both. Pirates 4 has a chance to return the franchise to greatness in more than just a financial realm and I think Lone Ranger has great potential depending on who plays the title role.

[Craigroy8287]

I can't wait for all 3. Depp is amazing. Especially in Tim Burton movies. I think he is going to be an amazing Mad Hatter. I really hope he does the next Batman movie as well. He will be a great Riddler. Depp must be worth so much money.

[themur]

If Depp had been in Planet of the Apes, could he have made that better.....I don't think so.

Burton covering Alice in Wonderland could be quite interesting and with Depp as the Mad Hatter it is a great start!

[Nancywitt]

Originally Posted by haunted_hottie

I have to agree that Depp playing Tonto is odd, but he does have the right facial structure for it. Just have to wait and see... .

I saw an interview with Johnny and he stated that he has some Native American in his background, Cherokee on his maternal grandfater. He does have that exotic "indian" look about him, I always thought at least.

Great news for Johnny fans!

[Mr_Incredible]

Pirates 4 might work, as long as they leave Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley's characters alone and don't bring them into it. Hopefully they pick up almost at the exact moment where "At World's End" ended

Spoiler

(with Jack on a makeshift boat on his way to find the fountain of youth and Babossa and crew trying to hunt him down)

. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to have a new crew come in, hopefully with John Lasseter producing and/ or directing, and get someone like Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci to pen it (the new 'it' writing team imo).

[Monkey joe]

Originally Posted by mark

Can't wait for both. Pirates 4 has a chance to return the franchise to greatness in more than just a financial realm and I think Lone Ranger has great potential depending on who plays the title role.

According to rumors, It is Nick Clooney's son, George. So you got a Clooney/Depp teamup that might happen.

[Rex Dopey24]

I can't wait for pirates 4. so what will pirates 4 is going to be about?

[TwilitWings]

I hope they let the ending for Will and Elizabeth stand and just focus on Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbarossa this time around. I'd be fine with a cameo, but ehhh.

And news on The Lone Ranger excites me if only because that might mean good things for Frontierland. (: