He Ain't Gonna Be Your Father's Tonto!

He Ain't Gonna Be Your Father's Tonto!

In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, Johnny Depp addresses the movie version of The Lone Ranger, in which he'll star as the Ranger's sidekick, Tonto.

News
By EdGross - Jan 18, 2011 08:01 AM EST
Filed Under: Action
Source: EW.com

“I think it’s going to be good, when we have a chance to put it up on its feet,” says Depp, who says part of his goal is to correct the way in which Native Americans are played in Hollywood. "It’s a real opportunity for me to give a salute to them. Tonto was a sidekick in all the Lone Ranger series. [This film] is a very different approach to that partnership. And a funny one I think.”

It would seem that Lone Ranger will shoot after Depp shoots Dark Shadows with Tim Burton and possibly before production starts on Pirates of the Caribbean V.

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VictorHugo
VictorHugo - 1/18/2011, 8:53 AM
You mean, my great grandfather, somebody is assuming too much. :P

Gosh, there´s no TV grave left unviolated by those lazy producers!

Why is that? Is that related to royalties or something?
Are they being forced by the Illuminati, or lawyers or is simple laziness?
StrangerX
StrangerX - 1/18/2011, 8:57 AM
I would rather see another actor play the role.
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 1/18/2011, 9:05 AM
If they wanted to show the correct way to play a Native American in Hollywood, then they should have cast a true Native American like Eddie Spears or Adam Beach. I have as much Cherokee in me as Depp has. I am very disappointed with this casting, regardless of how good of an actor Depp is.
thatiscrazy
thatiscrazy - 1/18/2011, 9:12 AM
Okay so do we really need a 5th Pirates movie... dam!
sparkadv
sparkadv - 1/18/2011, 9:44 AM
A younger Tonto would be really cool (Eddie Spears) …How will Johnny Depp correct the way in which Native Americans are played in Hollywood? Tonto is now a white man. Johnny Depp is a great actor..but please… wrong casting… this is as bad as Jessica Alba as Sue Storm.
Mysterion
Mysterion - 1/18/2011, 9:47 AM
Agree with Ranger14...like if there isnt any native american actors in Hollywood thats dying for a big break. Eddie Spears would be an excellent Tonto
selinakyle
selinakyle - 1/18/2011, 9:56 AM
Johnny Depp's grandfather is Cherokee.
JorEl77
JorEl77 - 1/18/2011, 10:01 AM
I liked The Lone Ranger when I was a kid.So I'm kinda glad they are finally making a movie.
comicb00kguy
comicb00kguy - 1/18/2011, 10:16 AM
So part of Depp's goal is to "correct the way that Native Americans are portrayed on film"? Why not start by hiring a FULL-BLOODED, authentic one to play the part? That would go a LOT further to accomplish that noble goal.
HarrisonBergeron
HarrisonBergeron - 1/18/2011, 10:28 AM
If Lone Ranger is taking liberties just like Green Hornet then I want the two to be connected. It is disappointing that the connection was not made in Hornet.

I guess they are probably different studios, it sucks how often that gets in the way of continuity.
patriautism
patriautism - 1/18/2011, 10:29 AM
The Lone Ranger is the The Green Hornet's great uncle..
It would have been pretty cool if they actually made a reference to this in the new movie, but they didn't.
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 1/18/2011, 10:45 AM
HE NEEDS A RANGER WITH ATTITUDE...



http://www.lonerangerfanclub.com/comic.html
tazmaniak
tazmaniak - 1/18/2011, 10:48 AM
BUT the connection between those characters gets less interesting as time goes by.The Lone Ranger's adventures take place around the 1860s.The Green Hornet debuted in the mid 1930s.So back then, their was only 70 years between the 2 characters, and their familial ties were closer and more notable.

Now that the Green Hornet is set in modern day, there's about 140 years between them.It's still kinda interesting that's he's an ancestor, but it's so long ago that it doesn't really matter.
Joe6Pack74
Joe6Pack74 - 1/18/2011, 10:54 AM
This is like Johnny Depp is killing Jesus. It sucks.
TyrannicalOverlord
TyrannicalOverlord - 1/18/2011, 11:06 AM
Depp is a good actor who can affect a variety of accents and mannerisms. You could hire a full-blooded Native American out of principle or you could hire an established actor who is a box office draw. Don't forget that the film industry exists to MAKE MONEY! That's not a bad thing!
tazmaniak
tazmaniak - 1/18/2011, 11:46 AM
The problem with Depp being cast is that Tonto has been the subject of radical stereotypes since his creation.They say this movie is trying to rectify that, but they start off by hiring an actor who is clearly, visually more Caucasian than he is Native American.

That's like making a movie that is intended to fix the way Chinese characters have been depicted in Hollywood, and hiring Keanu Reeves to play the main character.

I don't care how good of an actor he is, he looks like a white guy.Are they actually going to "darken" his skin for the role?I hope not.
MAXQ1961
MAXQ1961 - 1/18/2011, 12:28 PM
I'm the dude, playing a dude disguised as another dude!!! Hollywood is all about the $$$$$!!!! The Lone Ranger and Tonto are fist fighting in Heaven. Good book, by Sherman Alexie it was made into a movie called Smoke Signals. Most of the actors were native american or of native ancestry not everyone saw this movie I am sure but if you do you might understand what Depp is talking about. He should elaborate on what he means but maybe that would give away too much of the movie.
CapFanLex005
CapFanLex005 - 1/18/2011, 3:41 PM
@number21
No he has not played Jesus yet.

Does anyone know who is the LR?
SHAZAM171
SHAZAM171 - 1/18/2011, 4:11 PM
The reason Depp is doing this is because Hollywood likes the Minority roles to be second to the white roles. He wants Tonto to be upfront with the Lone Ranger. A lot of people want a minority to play the Tonto roll because Depp as a Native American will take some of the spot light away from The Lone Ranger. Hollywood and some people want Tonto to be a role that says "yes sir or no sir". That's what Johnny Depp wants to smash, THAT stereo-type. So any one (with good intentions) that want a true Native American to play the role of Tonto I say Thank you, But It's going to be a role in the Back ground,and that's not what I want. Johnny Depp is going to be side by side with the Lone Ranger and the Movie is going to called "THE LONE RANGERS" This Stereotype that portrays the White person as a hero and Hollywood gives the roles of A boss, police captain or Mayor to a black or Latin actor must stop. There are all kinds of Heroes. Black White, Latin, European, etc...
YOU GO JOHNNY!!!! DO US PROUD!!!!
hoodedjester
hoodedjester - 1/18/2011, 5:10 PM
Looking forward to this, they should keep the classic theme or have it as homage to the old show.
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 1/18/2011, 8:26 PM
Shazam@ Umm...wow..that is an interesting view as to why Depp should play the part...speculative thinking at best, but...I would venture to say that they want a name to get people to go buy tickets. Casting a predominantly white person in the role of a Native American isn't going to help anything in terms of stereotyping and race. If the studio wants Toto to hold his own weight next to the Lone Ranger than they direct the writer, director and actor to do that. An Eddie Spears or Adam Beach are just as capable of holding their own as Depp is, especially in this role.
comicb00kguy
comicb00kguy - 1/19/2011, 6:40 AM
Depp may have Native American blood in him, but that doesn't make him a pure Native American by any measure. I've got several friends that are part Native American like Depp, but none of them look like anything but another white guy, like Depp, if you saw them on the street somewhere. Why can't we give some work to an actual Native American actor, which would do far more to make the role authentic in appearance?

I do agree with the idea of making Tonto more than just a sidekick. That is a fine idea, if it's done right. Sadly, I think this movie is liable to turn out like most modern films- a series of explosions and poorly-filmed fight sequences with a blaringly loud soundtrack, all shot in gimmicky 3D.
StevieBurns
StevieBurns - 1/25/2011, 7:04 PM
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