Johnny Depp Returns as Captain Jack…and Tonto
A fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie seemed unlikely as every plot thread got neatly wrapped up and the escalating costs associated with making the films seemed unwieldy. And yet, on Wednesday, Disney stunned the entertainment world by not only announcing a fourth installment of the franchise but that Johnny Depp will be back as Capotain Jack Sparrow.
Depp, already committed to playing the Mad Hatter for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland 3-D project, was then announced as playing Tonto in a feature film adaptation of The Lone Ranger. Both Pirates and the Ranger films will be produced for the studio by Jerry Bruckheimer.
Depp took the stage in full Captain Jack regalia but people were at first puzzled as to why he was wearing a Lone Ranger mask until the announcement was made.
Additionally, Bruckheimer will be producing the unnecessary third film in the National Treasure franchise.
Please tell me this is a joke. Depp as Tonto? He has been played by actual Native American actors in most of the live action adaptations but in the 21st century he's going to be played by a white guy? And I thought Seth Rogen as Britt Reid was bad casting!
As bad as Depp as Tonto is….at least he isn't The Lone Ranger.
Depp's Wikipedia entry says he has some Cherokee ancestry, so it's not as absurd as it might sound…