Helena Bonham Carter, James Badge Dale, Barry Pepper, and country singer-turned-actor Dwight Yoakam are among the newest names linked to Disney’s adaptation of Lone Ranger from original "Pirates of the Caribbean" director Gore Verbinski.
Variety reports that the four actors are currently negotiating to star in the feature alongside Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp, a.k.a the Lone Ranger and Tonto. Other previous casting includes Oscar nominee Tom Wilkinson and Golden Globe nominee Ruth Wilson.
If negotiations go as planned, frequent Depp collaborator Bonham Carter will portray a lively, brothel-owning madam, Dale will play the brother of the Lone Ranger, Pepper will lead the seventh cavalry as Captain J. Fuller, and Yoakam will step into the role of the main bad guy, Butch Cavendish. Dale appeared in The Departed as well as HBO's The Pacific; Yoakam had a role in both "Crank" films and is currently filming Billy Bob Thornton's Jayne Mansfield's Car.
The lineup for Lone Ranger is already impressive with Hammer and Depp, but these names will certainly increase the appeal. As another Verbinski-Depp collaboration, Disney likely hopes Lone Ranger will gain a popularity and box-office success similar to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films when it rides off into the sunset on December 21, 2012.