'Lone Ranger' rides for Disney

[ALIASd]

Disney preps 'Lone Ranger' remake


By Borys Kit and Carl DiOrio
The Hollywood Reporter
March 27, 2008

"The Lone Ranger"

Writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio are going from "shiver me timbers!" to "Hi-yo Silver!"

The writing duo, best known for their work on the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, are in final negotiations to write a live-action big-screen adaptation of "The Lone Ranger" for Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

The project will be made by Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films in association with Entertainment Rights.

"Ranger," owned by Classic Media, began life as a 1930s radio show. Its popularity led to movie serials, TV shows, comic strips and comic books, toys, novels and more.

The hero's origin story begins with a group of Texas Rangers chasing down a gang of outlaws led by Butch Cavendish. The gang ambushes the Rangers, seemingly killing them all. One survivor is found, however, by an American Indian named Tonto, who nurses him back to health. The Ranger, donning a mask and riding a white stallion named Silver, teams up with Tonto to bring the unscrupulous gang and others of that ilk to justice.

Despite the long-standing presence in pop culture, however, "Ranger" has not enjoyed success in modern times. The character's most recent shot at the big screen, 1981's "The Legend of the Lone Ranger," failed so badly that the film's star, Klinton Spilsbury, never worked in Hollywood again. In 2003, WB Network aired a TV movie that served as a backdoor pilot, but it also bit the dust.

Part of the problems are the character's tropes -- wearing a mask, using only silver bullets, a creed that includes not killing your fellow man, the exclamation "Hi-yo Silver, away!" -- which can seem musty to today's audiences.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...80bb7be375dd49

[Alchimedes]

I really hope it is better then the 80's version. I'm curious how it will turn out.

[FrumiousBoojum]

Part of the problems are the character's tropes -- wearing a mask, using only silver bullets, a creed that includes not killing your fellow man, the exclamation "Hi-yo Silver, away!" -- which can seem musty to today's audiences.

Alright -- have to disagree with at least half of that statement.

Masks haven't stopped people from enjoying the Batman movies. Silver bullets -- not sure why that's musty. Unless it's because of the werewolf movies made since Lone Ranger started. Not killing fellow man? Well, I don't believe that was always the case for the Lone Ranger. Like almost any superhero, it was the last resort to stop the villain. Ok, Hi-yo Silver might be up there close to Robin's "Holy..." exclamations.

Lone Ranger has *so* much potential. It's really a great western for people that hate westerns. I grew up with a father that watched almost nothing but westerns and The Lone Ranger was one of the few that I would willingly watch.

He's just a great Batman-like character. They'd have to really be sloppy for this to not work.

As long as they keep the dark and mysterious aspect of the Lone Ranger, it should work well enough.

I'd say this and Sam Raimi's version of The Shadow would be the top two of my most anticipated movies not yet really in production.

[SoCalUW]

It would be great if a new Disney/Bruckheimer colaboration does for The Lone Ranger (and Westerns?) what it did for pirates after that other little Pirate trilogy.

[Mr. Yeti]

Awesome!

I think this will turn out great. I'm a fan of Ted and Terry's work with Pirates of the Caribbean and it's cool Jerry Bruckheimer is producing it.

[Oswald the Rabbitt]

Could this bring a new attraction to Frontierland

[FrumiousBoojum]

Originally Posted by Oswald the Rabbitt

Could this bring a new attraction to Frontierland

One could only hope...

Could be a great way (or excuse, whichever works) to bring back some of the classic attractions.

[DisneyFan28]

this will be intresting.
thats all I can say.

[TwilitWings]

It'd be awesome if this could bring some new life to Frontierland! Very interesting news, indeed.

[Mr. Yeti]

Originally Posted by Oswald the Rabbitt

Could this bring a new attraction to Frontierland

I remember hearing rumors that Disney was already in some early stages of planning an attraction (possibly a big, E-ticket style ride) and put it in Frontierland.

I think that would be cool if it became a reality.

[Rocker]

Hopefully we can expect a lot of explosions from Michael Bay.

[ALIASd]

Originally Posted by TheRockr

Hopefully we can expect a lot of explosions from Michael Bay.

Hopefully (?) he'll be too tired from 'Transformers 2'.

[sir clinksalot]

Cool news.

I think it'd be great if they actually filmed it in Black and White.

[Retrocool]

Originally Posted by sir clinksalot

Cool news.

I think it'd be great if they actually filmed it in Black and White.

Well, we can dream, but even the Clayton Moore theatrical films were photographed in color.

It took me a minute to figure out just why Disney owns the rights to The Lone Ranger now. Then it dawned on me - Jack Wrather. He owned the rights. When the Wrather Corporation was bought by Disney, the rights to the Lone Ranger went to them (along with the Disneyland Hotel, the Queen Mary, the Spruce Goose, and other properties).

Jack Wrather's bio mentions it - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0942019/bio

Anyway, if ANYBODY could make The Lone Ranger into a hit movie, it's Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio. After all, they did a great job with bringing back Zorro. Jerry Bruckheimer producing only helps in this regard as well.

I'm a little curious how Tonto's going to be written, though. I mean, seriously, could anyone really top Jay Silverheels?

[GhostHost2]

Part of the problems are the character's tropes -- wearing a mask, using only silver bullets, a creed that includes not killing your fellow man, the exclamation "Hi-yo Silver, away!" -- which can seem musty to today's audiences.

Wearing a mask and having a creed that says you shouldn't kill your fellow man. Hmmm...that sounds a lot like Batman, which appeals to modern audiences greatly.