Johnny Depp is set to take on a new Disney film adaptation of the Lone Ranger. Johnny Depp will play Tonto, usually the Lone Ranger's sidekick, but in this version the roles will be altered and the Lone Ranger will be Tonto's sidekick.

Once again Depp will reunite with Jerry Bruckheimer, who is producing the film, and Gore Verbinski, who after directing the first three 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films and the animated movie 'Rango', will also helm this one. Depp told Entertainment Weekly that the film is attempting to completely diverge in a different direction from the 1950s 'Lone Ranger' TV show. He stated: "I remember watching it as a kid, with Jay Silverheels and Clayton Moore, and going: 'Why is the f***ing Lone Ranger telling Tonto what to do?'" he continued "I started thinking about Tonto and what could be done in my own small way try to - 'eliminate' isn't possible - but reinvent the relationship, to attempt to take some of the ugliness thrown on the Native Americans, not only in The Lone Ranger, but the way Indians were treated throughout history of cinema, and turn it on its head."

After much speculation Armie Hammer, who previously appeared as the Winklevoss twins in 'The Social Network', has been cast as the Lone Ranger. Johnny Depp is currently starring in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strangers' Tides'; the fourth movie in the franchise.