Tom Wilkinson (MICHAEL CLAYTON) is in discussions to board LONE RANGER from Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer, reports Variety. He would play a railroad tycoon. Armie Hammer (THE SOCIAL NETWORK) is set to don the mask of the avenging Texas Ranger and Johnny Depp will play his Indian mentor Tonto. Gore Verbinski (original PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN trilogy) is directing.

Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN) and Justin Haythe (REVOLUTIONARY ROAD) wrote the script.

Production will start this fall with a release date set for Dec. 21, 2012.