The film will star Armie Hammer in the role of the Lone Ranger, with Johnny Depp — who's currently in England shooting Tim Burton's take on the Gothic horror soap opera Dark Shadows — as Tonto. Directing is Gore Verbinski, who, of course, collaborated with Depp on the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films as well as the CG film Rango. It will also be a reunion with Jerry Bruckheimer, who has produced all four Pirates films (among an incredibly long list of credits). The script is written by Justin Haythe.
Also expected for release towards the end of next year is Bond 23 and part one of Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Hobbit.
Describing the set up for the The Lone Ranger, Deadline writes that it "takes place in 1869. A Texas Ranger, left for dead, is saved by the Commanche Tonto, who gives his new partner the masked identity of Lone Ranger. Justin Haythe wrote the script and Jerry Bruckheimer is producing. The film begins production later this year.