**Update: **Gosling's team reached out to Entertainment Weekly with word that he's not doing the film. Disney will need another Ranger...
Perhaps surprisingly for a man who has been fairly happy to stay in Indie-land for the majority of his career to date (aside from the odd mainstream entry such as Remember the Titans and Murder by Numbers), Ryan Gosling is always mentioned when big blockbuster roles come up. He’s been rumoured for several superhero roles and will appear in his first studio comedy, Crazy, Stupid, Love this summer. And with Logan’s Run in his immediate future, he’s now also being linked to the title role in Disney’s The Lone Ranger.
While The Wrap’s report is quick to point out that it’s early days, Gosling definitely seems to be mulling the prospect, possibly spurred on by a chance to work with Johnny Depp. who's been attached to play Tonto forever.
Disney has been trying to get this one into the saddle for a while now, hoping to kick off a new franchise to possibly rival its Jack Sparrow series. No surprise really, since Pirates producer Jerry Bruckheimer is overseeing the adaptation of the hero’s tale, which began on radio before moving to TV in the 1940s and 50s. And they’ve even got Gore Verbinski directing.
Justin Haythe, who penned Revolutionary Road, is the man currently charged with getting the script into shape, and while no concrete plot details have leaked out, you can bet it’ll find the masked lawman and his faithful sidekick Tonto busting criminals.
Even if he does decide to jump on, Gosling has a commitment to Logan’s Run which might clash with the Mouse House’s Ranger shooting plans. And do you really think Gosling will sign on to something that could see him labelled a big ol’ sell out in some quarters? Remains to be seen…