The stable door is well and truly ajar on casting for Lone Ranger as a whole gang of actors are now galloping towards deals on the movie. The latest names to saddle up? Helena Bonham Carter, Dwight Yoakam, Barry Pepper and James Badge Dale.
Yoakam is in talks to play the villain, Butch Cavendish, the leader of the nasty Cavendish gang, a group of no-goodniks who attack the Texas Rangers.
Carter is considering the role of a colourful madam who runs the local brothel, a part that sounds like something she could have some real fun with.
Pepper, meanwhile is eying the job of playing Captain J Fuller, commander of the seventh cavalry and a man we assume will help the Lone Ranger and Tonto on their crusade against the Cavendish boys. Finally, Dale is up for the part of Dan Reid, the older brother to Hammer and, we’re going to figure, likely not long for the world.
They’re joining a cast that already includes Johnny Depp (Tonto), Armie Hammer (the Lone Ranger), Tom Wilkinson and Ruth Wilson (Dan Reid’s wife). Gore Verbinski is calling the shots and the movie should arrive late in 2012.