Now the film’s finally getting set to shoot later this year, Gore Verbinski is starting to round up some additional cast members to join Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp in The Lone Ranger. The first to enter early talks? Tom Wilkinson.
Variety reports that Wilkinson is looking to play a railroad tycoon who has a prominent role in the film’s plot. While the full details weren’t disclosed, we’re guessing he’s either someone who helps out the Ranger (Hammer) and Tonto (Depp) or the Big Bad of the piece. Our money’s on the latter, since business types often tend to be the villains…
Verbinski’s working from a script by **Pirates of the Caribbean **veterans Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, along with contributions from Revolutionary Road’s Justin Haythe. The film already has a scheduled release date (in the US, at least) of December 21, 2012. Work will be able to properly get under way once Depp is finished shooting Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows and Hammer has completed his time on Snow White.
Wilkinson, who was last seen in The Green Hornet and Burke and Hare, will next show up in Robert Redford's The Conspirator, which will be out on July 1.