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The Lone Ranger isn't terrible popular among newer generations -- the spectacular failure of the 2013 "Lone Ranger" feature film cemented that notion -- but for many Baby Boomers, the character is a vital pop culture figure. For those who may need a refresher, The Lone Ranger is a masked vigilante who toured the Old West with his Indigenous American compatriot Tonto, writing wrongs on a freelance basis. He was previously a Texas Ranger (hence his moniker), rode a horse named Silver, and dispatched bad guys with specially made silver bullets. 

The Lone Ranger first appeared as the protagonist of a 1933 radio serial co-created by Fran Striker and George W. Trendle, which broadcasted on Wxyz out of Detroit, Michigan. This radio show was popular enough to warrant a "Lone Ranger" TV series, which is what really thrust the titular character into the pop culture zeitgeist as it ran for 221 episodes over nine years.

The Lone Ranger made his debut on a Detroit radio station in 1933, invented by either the station's owner, George W. Trendle, or the show's writer, Fran Striker. (There's some debate on the matter.) As fans of Westerns will know, The Lone Ranger was a masked vigilante who operated in the wilds of 19th century America, tracking down criminals with his best friend, a man named Tonto. Tonto's origins were never made wholly clear, although he's most likely Apache, Comanche, or Potawatomi. The Lone Ranger rode a horse named Silver, and used silver bullets to dispatch his victims.

The Lone Ranger's origin story is the stuff of comic book lore. The Ranger's older brother and a posse of other Texas Rangers were on the trail of an evil criminal named Cavendish, when, thanks to a betrayal, Cavendish got the drop on them. Cavendish killed them all, but left a young boy alive.

Ten years ago, Disney’s “The Lone Ranger” galloped into theaters everywhere.

An updated and deconstructed version of the character known primarily for his black mask and white horse (named Silver), the movie was a big-budget, high-concept adventure film from the same team behind Disney’s lucrative “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise – director Gore Verbinski, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and star Johnny Depp, who would star as Tonto.

The last time the character had graced the big screen was in 1981 with “The Legend of the Lone Ranger,” a project that went through a similarly troubled production and suffered similar critical and commercial indifference.. But Disney had hoped that the combination of the “Pirates” veterans and the more modern take on the material (with the story told from Tonto’s point-of-view) would be enough to lure contemporary audiences to the Western.

But, of course, that didn’t happen. The movie didn’t...

Amasia Entertainment co-founders Michael Helfant and Bradley Gallo continue developing the "Green Hornet and Kato" live-action feature, showcasing a female 'Kato', based on the 1936 mask-wearing crime-fighting character from radio, pulp magazines, comic books, movies and TV series:

"The Green Hornet" debuted January 31, 1936 on radio station Wxyz Detroit, the creation of George W. Trendle and Fran Striker of "The Lone Ranger" fame. 

Broadcasting until 1952 on the Mutual and NBC Blue networks, the series followed the adventures of 'Britt Reid', a bored playboy...

...whose life changes when he inherits his father's newspaper 'The Daily Sentinel' and saves the life of 'Kato', a Japanese man with martial-arts skills.

After Reid and Kato witness a brutal crime, Reid becomes a crime-fighter, using two special, non-lethal guns, with one firing 'knock-out gas' and the other producing a 'Hornet's Sting' electric shock.

Following its successful run on radio, "The Green Hornet" ran in several...

Amasia Entertainment co-founders Michael A. Helfant and Bradley Gallo continue developing a new "Green Hornet" feature, based on the 1936 mask-wearing crime-fighting character from radio, pulp magazines, comic books, movies and TV series:

"The Green Hornet" debuted January 31, 1936 on radio station Wxyz Detroit, the creation of George W. Trendle and Fran Striker of "The Lone Ranger" fame. 

Broadcasting until 1952 on the Mutual and NBC Blue networks, the series followed the adventures of 'Britt Reid', a bored playboy whose life changes when he inherits his father's newspaper 'The Daily Sentinel' and saves the life of 'Kato', a Japanese man with martial-arts skills.

After Reid and Kato witness a brutal crime, Reid becomes a crime-fighter, using two special, non-lethal guns, with one firing 'knock-out gas' and the other producing a 'Hornet's Sting' electric shock.

Following its successful run on radio, "The Green Hornet" ran in several comic books and a 1940's movie serial from Universal.

A new movie version of ‘Green Hornet and Kato’ is now in developing after Universal has partnered up with Amasia Entertainment who now own the film franchise rights.

At this stage, details for the film are still being considered. Originally starting life as a radio show in the ’30s, the story went on to spawn the 1966 TV series starring Bruce Lee and the Michel Gondry 2011 feature film which starred Seth Rogan, Cameron Diaz and Christoph Waltz.

A masked crime-fighting superhero created in 1936 by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, Hornet is the alter ego of Britt Reid, an American newspaper publisher who dons a green mask and wields guns to fight crime. He is aided in this endeavour by his Asian valet-turned-partner Kato, with the two speeding around town in a futuristic car known as the Black Beauty.

Also in news – Secret Cinema launches Secret Sofa

Peter Cramer, president of Universal Pictures,...

Amasia Entertainment co-founders Michael Helfant and Bradley Gallo continue developing the "Green Hornet and Kato" live-action feature, showcasing a female 'Kato', based on the 1936 mask-wearing crime-fighting character from radio, pulp magazines, comic books, movies and TV series:

"The Green Hornet" debuted January 31, 1936 on radio station Wxyz Detroit, the creation of George W. Trendle and Fran Striker of "The Lone Ranger" fame. 

Broadcasting until 1952 on the Mutual and NBC Blue networks, the series followed the adventures of 'Britt Reid', a bored playboy...

...whose life changes when he inherits his father's newspaper 'The Daily Sentinel' and saves the life of 'Kato', a Japanese man with martial-arts skills.

After Reid and Kato witness a brutal crime, Reid becomes a crime-fighter, using two special, non-lethal guns, with one firing 'knock-out gas' and the other producing a 'Hornet's Sting' electric shock.

Following its successful run on radio, "The Green Hornet" ran in several comic books...

A classic superhero is getting another shot at the big screen. It's been revealed that Universal Pictures has partnered with Amasia Entertainment for a Green Hornet reboot titled The Green Hornet and Kato. Michael Helfant and Bradley Gallo, who founded Amasia, landed the movie rights to the franchise in a competitive bidding war earlier this year. Now, Universal is stepping in to help make the reboot a reality.

Universal Pictures has optioned the rights to the characters, with The Green Hornet and Kato already in development. This is one of few major superhero properties not controlled by Marvel or DC, which makes it a potentially big get. The characters were created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker in the 1930s and started life as a series of radio serials before being adapted in other mediums, most notably a TV series in the 60s that starred Bruce Lee. Universal Pictures...

After engaging in a heated bidding war back in January, Universal has emerged victorious as the studio set to develop a new feature adaptation based on The Green Hornet and Kato. Universal is partnering with Amasia Entertainment for the project, which is based on heroes first created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker in 1936. Arriving on the superhero scene before Superman, Green Hornet…...

Universal Pictures and Amasia Entertainment are partnering on The Green Hornet and Kato, which is currently in feature development.

Universal optioned the rights to the iconic characters, first created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker in 1936, after Amasia co-founders Michael Helfant and Bradley Gallo took control of the motion picture franchise rights in a highly competitive bidding war back in January.

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The Green Hornet was one of early radio’s most popular adventure shows, predating Superman, before being turned into 1940s movie serials from Universal. A 1966 TV series, distributed by 20th Century Fox TV, followed, introducing Bruce Lee (Kato) to the United States. The story...

Amasia Entertainment co-founders Michael Helfant and Bradley Gallo continue developing a new "Green Hornet" feature, based on the 1936 mask-wearing crime-fighting character from radio, pulp magazines, comic books, movies and TV series:

"The Green Hornet" debuted January 31, 1936 on radio station Wxyz Detroit, the creation of George W. Trendle and Fran Striker of "The Lone Ranger" fame. 

Broadcasting until 1952 on the Mutual and NBC Blue networks, the series followed the adventures of 'Britt Reid', a bored playboy whose life changes when he inherits his father's newspaper 'The Daily Sentinel' and saves the life of 'Kato', a Japanese man with martial-arts skills.

After Reid and Kato witness a brutal crime, Reid becomes a crime-fighter, using two special, non-lethal guns, with one firing 'knock-out gas' and the other producing a 'Hornet's Sting' electric shock.

Following its successful run on radio, "The Green Hornet" ran in several comic books and a 1940's movie serial from Universal.

Amasia Entertainment co-founders Michael Helfant and Bradley Gallo have acquired feature film rights to "The Green Hornet", based on the 1936 radio crime-fighting character and subsequent spin-off pulp magazines, comic books, movies and TV series:

"The Green Hornet" debuted January 31, 1936 on radio station Wxyz Detroit, the creation of George W. Trendle and Fran Striker of "The Lone Ranger" fame. Broadcasting until 1952 on the Mutual and NBC Blue networks, the series followed the adventures of 'Britt Reid', a bored playboy whose life changes when he inherits his father's newspaper 'The Daily Sentinel' and saves the life of 'Kato', a Japanese man with martial-arts skills.

After Reid and Kato witness a brutal crime, Reid becomes a crime-fighter, using two special, non-lethal guns, with one firing 'knock-out gas' and the other producing a 'Hornet's Sting' electric shock.

Following its successful run on radio,

"The Green Hornet" ran in several comic books and a 1940's movie serial from Universal.

There was a time when it was generally perceived that iconic heroic fantasy characters such as The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet, The Shadow and Buck Rogers were so popular for so long that they would be around forever. I think of that whenever somebody alleges Superman and Spider-Man will be around forever. Times change, as do our cultural predilections and venues.

Nonetheless, those heroes have become part of our cultural fabric. Most Americans (at least) who have neither read, seen, nor heard the adventures of these characters have heard their names and have some vague idea of their modus operandi. Just as DC Entertainment has kept Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman “alive” through their comic books while merchandisers and movie producers such as Michael Uslan could enhance their visibility through their more profitable endeavors.

Right now all of the retired heroic fantasy characters I mentioned above are being kept...

(Rns) Producers of the latest reboot of the “Superman” franchise famously marketed the movie to Christian audiences. Makers of the new “Lone Ranger” movie, not so much.

There’s a reason for that. If “Man of Steel” panders to Christians, in “The Lone Ranger,” Christians are portrayed as unattractive, ineffectual, hateful or flat-out hypocritically evil.

Like so much in this mess of a movie, it’s an ingredient that doesn’t make a ton of sense.

(Spoiler alert: I’m not going to give away much, but if you’re the type who wants to know nothing about a movie, come on back after you see it.)

Clocking in at two-and-a-half hours, “The Lone Ranger” can’t decide if it’s an homage to the graphically bloody Westerns of Sam Peckinpah or the slapstick of Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles.”

And yes, I get that it needs to restate the basic...

Disney certainly has their hands full these days. It seems like the Mouse House owns the rights to almost every successful franchise on the planet. You've got Marvel Comics characters, the world of Oz, the Muppets, Star Wars, and now The Lone Ranger.

Most Disney films do quite well at the box office, but every now and then a flop comes along. Even though I loved the movie myself, the studio considers John Carter to be a miserable failure. Westerns don't do very well in the theater these days. One would think a producer investing in a movie about a masked outlaw and his Indian companion in the Old West would work out about as well as putting the money in a few bags and throwing it into a fiery furnace. Apparently, not if the Indian happens to be Johnny Depp and the director is Pirates of the Caribbean helmsman Gore Verbinski.

Sneak Peek a new international trailer with more revealing footage from director Gore Verbinski's new take on "The Lone Ranger".

The new film stars Johnny Depp as Native American 'Tonto' and Armie Hammer as Texas lawman 'John Reid'.

"The Lone Ranger" wrapped in and around Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Shiprock and other locations in New Mexico, August 2012.

"The Lone Ranger", was originally a radio show created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker.

The premise of a vigilante, masked 'Texas Ranger', his horse 'Silver' and 'Indian' companion 'Tonto', was then adapted for pulp magazines and a popular TV series.

Episodes usually ended with a character lamenting the fact they never found out the hero's name ("Who was that masked man?"), only to be told, "Why, that was the Lone Ranger!"

Theme music used for both the radio and TV series was the "cavalry charge" finale of composer Gioacchino Rossini...

Sneak Peek new character posters from director Gore Verbinski's "The Lone Ranger".

The new film stars Johnny Depp as Native American 'Tonto' and Armie Hammer as Texas lawman 'John Reid'.

"The Lone Ranger" wrapped in and around Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Shiprock and other locations in New Mexico, August 2012.

"The Lone Ranger", was originally a radio show created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker.

The premise of a vigilante, masked 'Texas Ranger', his horse 'Silver' and 'Indian' companion 'Tonto', was then adapted for pulp magazines and a popular TV series.

Episodes usually ended with a character lamenting the fact they never found out the hero's name ("Who was that masked man?"), only to be told, "Why, that was the Lone Ranger!"

Theme music used for both the radio and TV series was the "cavalry charge" finale of composer Gioacchino Rossini's "William Tell Overture".

Cast of the...

Sneak Peek a new international trailer supporting "The Lone Ranger" starring Johnny Depp as Native American 'Tonto' and Armie Hammer as Texas lawman 'John Reid', directed by Gore Verbinski.

Principle photography on "The Lone Ranger" wrapped in and around Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Shiprock and other locations in New Mexico, August 2012.

"The Lone Ranger", was originally a radio show created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker.

The premise of a vigilante, masked 'Texas Ranger', his horse 'Silver' and 'Indian' companion 'Tonto', was then adapted for pulp magazines and a popular TV series.

Episodes usually ended with a character lamenting the fact they never found out the hero's name ("Who was that masked man?"), only to be told, "Why, that was the Lone Ranger!"

Theme music used for both the radio and TV series was the "cavalry charge" finale of composer Gioacchino Rossini's "William Tell Overture".

Cast of...

Sneak Peek a new official trailer for "The Lone Ranger" starring Johnny Depp as Native American 'Tonto' and Armie Hammer as Texas lawman 'John Reid', directed by Gore Verbinski.

Principle photography on "The Lone Ranger" wrapped in and around Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Shiprock and other locations in New Mexico, August 2012.

"The Lone Ranger", was originally a radio show created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker.

The premise of a vigilante, masked 'Texas Ranger', his horse 'Silver' and 'Indian' companion 'Tonto', was then adapted for pulp magazines and a popular TV series.

Episodes usually ended with a character lamenting the fact they never found out the hero's name ("Who was that masked man?"), only to be told, "Why, that was the Lone Ranger!"

Theme music used for both the radio and TV series was the "cavalry charge" finale of composer Gioacchino Rossini's "William Tell Overture".

Cast of...

Sneak Peek the first official trailer for "The Lone Ranger" starring Johnny Depp as Native American 'Tonto' and Armie Hammer as Texas lawman 'John Reid', directed by Gore Verbinski.

Principle photography on "The Lone Ranger" wrapped in and around Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Shiprock and other locations in New Mexico, August 2012.

"The Lone Ranger", was originally a radio show created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker.

The premise of a vigilante, masked 'Texas Ranger', his horse 'Silver' and 'Indian' companion 'Tonto', was then adapted for pulp magazines and a popular TV series.

Episodes usually ended with a character lamenting the fact they never found out the hero's name ("Who was that masked man?"), only to be told, "Why, that was the Lone Ranger!"

Theme music used for both the radio and TV series was the "cavalry charge" finale of composer Gioacchino Rossini's "William Tell Overture".

Cast of...

Sneak Peek more new images of Johnny Depp as Native American 'Tonto' and Armie Hammer as Texas lawman 'John Reid' from the upcoming Disney, Bruckheimer western action feature "The Lone Ranger", directed by Gore Verbinski.

Principle photography on "The Lone Ranger" wrapped in and around Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Shiprock and other locations in New Mexico, August 2012.

"The Lone Ranger", was originally a radio show created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker.

The premise of a vigilante, masked 'Texas Ranger', his horse 'Silver' and 'Indian' companion 'Tonto', was then adapted for pulp magazines and a popular TV series.

Episodes usually ended with a character lamenting the fact they never found out the hero's name ("Who was that masked man?"), only to be told, "Why, that was the Lone Ranger!"

Theme music used for both the radio and TV series was the "cavalry charge" finale of composer Gioacchino Rossini's "William Tell...

Sneak Peek the first official image of Johnny Depp as Native American 'Tonto' and Armie Hammer as "The Lone Ranger" from the set of the currently lensing Disney, Bruckheimer western action feature, directed by Gore Verbinski.

The motion picture started principal photography in New Mexico, February 2012.

Shooting is planned in and around Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Shiprock and other locations in the state, to August 2012.

"The Lone Ranger", was originally a radio, then TV series, created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, featuring a vigilante, masked 'Texas Ranger', his horse 'Silver' and 'Indian' companion 'Tonto'.

Episodes usually ended with a character lamenting the fact they never found out the hero's name ("Who was that masked man?"), only to be told, "Why, that was the Lone Ranger!"

Theme music used was the "cavalry charge" finale of composer Gioacchino Rossini's "William Tell Overture".

The new film also stars Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner,...

William Fichtner has replaced Dwight Yoakam as the main villain in Disney's bigscreen version of the iconic "The Lone Ranger." According to Deadline.com, Armie Hammer is starring as the Lone Ranger opposite Johnny Depp as Tonto.The cast also includes Tom Wilkinson, Ruth Wilson, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale and Helena Bonham Carter.Gore Verbinski is directing from a script by Justin Haythe, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio.Jerry Bruckheimer is producing with a May 31, 2013 release date set.Production will begin at the end of February."The Lone Ranger" was created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker.The title character is a masked Texas Ranger in the American Old West who rights the injustices he encounters with the aid of his...

Governor Susana Martinez and the New Mexico Film Office have announced that Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films' "The Lone Ranger", directed by Gore Verbinski, starring Johnny Depp as 'Tonto', will start principal photography in New Mexico, February 2012.

Production is planned in and around Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Shiprock and other locations around the state, filming to August 2012.

"'The Lone Ranger' is proof that New Mexico’s film industry is alive and well," said Governor Martinez.

"This administration is committed to fostering productive relationships with film studios so we can continue to offer our talented workforce and breathtaking backdrops for major productions."

"The Lone Ranger", was originally a radio, then TV series, created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker, featuring a masked Texas Ranger, his horse 'Silver' and 'Indian' companion 'Tonto'.

Episodes usually ended with a character lamenting the fact they never found out the...

James Badge Dale is in talks to join the cast of Disney's bigscreen version of the iconic "The Lone Ranger."According to Deadline.com, Armie Hammer is starring as the Lone Ranger opposite Johnny Depp as Tonto.The cast also includes Tom Wilkinson, Ruth Wilson, Barry Pepper, Helena Bonham Carter and Dwight Yoakam.Dale, who can be seen in "Shame" and the upcoming "The Grey," would play Hammer's older brother.Gore Verbinski is directing from a script by Justin Haythe, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio.Jerry Bruckheimer is producing with a May 31, 2013 release date set.Production will begin in February."The Lone Ranger" was created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker.The title character is a masked Texas Ranger in the American Old West...

According to reports actor Johnny Depp and produce Jerry Bruckheimer have agreed to substantial upfront pay cuts regarding their involvement in Walt Disney Pictures fresh take on "The Lone Ranger", pushing the production back into the green light for a 2012 start.

Actor Armie Hammer ("The Social Network") will play "The Lone Ranger", adapting the Old West radio show/TV/comic book character, for Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski

("Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End").

Co-starring Depp as native side-kick 'Tonto', the film will be based on a screenplay by Justin Haythe ("Revolutionary Road").

Premise of the "The Lone Ranger", will set up the origins of the American Old West character, with Tonto nursing an ambushed Texas Ranger back to health.

The two men then become 'blood brothers' and inseparable partners.

"The Lone Ranger", was originally a radio, then TV series, created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker,...

Country music singer Dwight Yoakam is in talks to play the villain in Disney's bigscreen version of the iconic "The Lone Ranger."According to Variety, Gore Verbinski is directing from a script by Justin Haythe, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio.Barry Pepper and Helena Bonham Carter are also in talks to join the cast.Armie Hammer is starring as the Lone Ranger opposite Johnny Depp as Tonto.Tom Wilkinson and Ruth Wilson have also been cast.Jerry Bruckheimer is producing with shooting set to begin later this fall.Disney has set a December 21, 2012, release date."The Lone Ranger" was created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker.The title character is a masked Texas Ranger in the American Old West who rights the injustices...

Ruth Wilson is in talks to play the female lead in Disney's bigscreen version of the iconic "The Lone Ranger."According to Variety, Armie Hammer is starring as the Lone Ranger opposite Johnny Depp as Tonto.Tom Wilkinson has also been cast.Gore Verbinski is directing from a script by Justin Haythe, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio.Jerry Bruckheimer is producing. Disney has set a December 21, 2012, release date."The Lone Ranger" was created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker.The title character is a masked Texas Ranger in the American Old West who rights the injustices he encounters with the aid of his wise Native American companion, Tonto."The Lone Ranger" premiered on radio in 1933, leading to nearly 3,000 radio shows,...

Tom Wilkinson is in talks to join Disney.s bigscreen version of the iconic "The Lone Ranger."According to Variety, Armie Hammer is starring as the Lone Ranger opposite Johnny Depp as Tonto.Gore Verbinski is directing from a script by Justin Haythe, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio.Jerry Bruckheimer is producing. Shooting is expected to begin after Depp wraps Warner's .Dark Shadows.. Disney has set a December 21, 2012 release date."The Lone Ranger" was created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker.The title character is a masked Texas Ranger in the American Old West who rights the injustices he encounters with the aid of his wise Native American companion, Tonto."The Lone Ranger" premiered on radio in 1933, leading to nearly 3,000...

Disney has set a December 21, 2012 release date for their bigscreen version of the iconic "The Lone Ranger."According to Variety, Armie Hammer is starring as the Lone Ranger opposite Johnny Depp as Tonto.Gore Verbinski is directing from a script by Justin Haythe.Jerry Bruckheimer is producing. Shooting is expected to begin after Depp wraps Warner's .Dark Shadows.. "The Lone Ranger" was created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker.The title character is a masked Texas Ranger in the American Old West who rights the injustices he encounters with the aid of his wise Native American companion, Tonto."The Lone Ranger" premiered on radio in 1933, leading to nearly 3,000 radio shows, while the TV series with Clayton Moore ran...

Armie Hammer has closed a deal to play the Lone Ranger in Disney's bigscreen version of the iconic "The Lone Ranger," opposite Johnny Depp as Tonto.According to Variety, Gore Verbinski is directing from a script by Justin Haythe.Jerry Bruckheimer is producing with a fall 2012 release date planned. Shooting is expected to begin after Depp wraps Warner's .Dark Shadows.. "The Lone Ranger" was created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker.The title character is a masked Texas Ranger in the American Old West who rights the injustices he encounters with the aid of his wise Native American companion, Tonto."The Lone Ranger" premiered on radio in 1933, leading to nearly 3,000 radio shows, while the TV series with Clayton...

Actor Armie Hammer ("The Social Network") will play "The Lone Ranger" in Disney's upcoming adaptation of the Old West radio show/TV/comic book character, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Gore Verbinski ("Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End").

Co-starring actor Johnny Depp as native side-kick 'Tonto', the film will be based on a screenplay by Justin Haythe ("Revolutionary Road").

For "The Lone Ranger", Bruckheimer intends to "return to those thrilling days of yesteryear", by exploiting the 'western' movie genre, similar to how mid-seventeenth century buccaneers were depicted in the "Pirates Of The Caribbean" franchise.

Premise of the "The Lone Ranger", will set up the origins of the American Old West character, with Tonto nursing an ambushed Texas Ranger back to health, followed by the two becoming blood brothers and inseparable partners.

"The Lone Ranger", was originally a radio, then TV series, created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker,...

Armie Hammer is in talks to play the Lone Ranger in Disney's bigscreen version of the iconic "The Lone Ranger," opposite Johnny Depp as Tonto.According to Variety, Gore Verbinski is directing from a script by Justin Haythe.Jerry Bruckheimer is producing with a fall 2012 release date planned. "The Lone Ranger" was created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker.The title character is a masked Texas Ranger in the American Old West who rights the injustices he encounters with the aid of his wise Native American companion, Tonto."The Lone Ranger" premiered on radio in 1933, leading to nearly 3,000 radio shows, while the TV series with Clayton Moore ran for five seasons beginning in 1949.Many of the sayings on...

Directed by: Michel Gondry

Written by: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, George W. Trendle, Fran Striker

Cast: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz, Edward James Olmos

Britt Reid (Seth Rogan) had a horribly sad and scarred childhood.

His media mogul billionaire dad often spoke very sternly to him and once pulled the head off of one of his toys. Likely none of us can imagine the trauma and horror of having a dad who wants his son to grow up with discipline and integrity, and so we really shouldn't judge Reid too much as he quite deservedly evolves into an incredibly spoiled rich brat without a shred of decency or humanity remaining in his fat and stupid neanderthalic soul.

Reid enters into a state of permanent teenage rebellion, and is a little like a combination of Paris Hilton and The Who. He drinks constantly, throws huge expensive parties (that...

Director: Michel Gondry Writers: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg (screenplay), George W. Trendle, Fran Striker (characters, origin) Starring: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz, Tom Wilkinson, Edward James Olmos, Edward Furlong With roots from the Universal serials of the 1940's and the TV series of the 1960's, The Green Hornet is a buddy/vigilante superhero tale about Britt Reid (Seth Rogen), who is the son of the wealthy and respected newspaper publisher James Reid (Tom Wilkinson). Britt is a twenty-something loser playboy with little ambition to seek an identity outside of his privileged bubble...that is until James suddenly dies and Britt inherits his father's company. Through a humorous and bratty rich kid tantrum, Britt meets an employee of his father's named Kato (Jay Chou). Britt soon discovers that there is much more to Kato after he scratches the surface. As it tuns out, Kato is a mechanics genius...

Of all the middling movies we get each January, studios are most confident the ones they release on the weekend before Martin Luther King Jr. Day are the ones that will make them the most money. That means that this weekend's movies are considered to be the crop's cream. Sure, they're the January crop's cream, but we'll take what we can get.

What can we get?

This year, it's a couple of buddy comedies. One's from that group of nearing-middle-age comedians I like to call the "Fat Pack," and the other is from that group that can only be known as the "Apat Pack." ("Dude, Apatow had absolutely nothing to do with Green Hornet. And wasn't Vaughn part of that group they were calling the 'Frat Pack'?" "I'm sure Apatow had something to do with Green Hornet. Isn't Leslie Mann in it, or something?" "No, she's not. The only link...

After decades in development, the big screen adaptation of The Green Hornet is finally opening this weekend, starring Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, and Cameron Diaz. Since our review of the film won’t be available until Friday, here are a few things you may not know about the masked hero and the movie’s arduous road to your local theater.

The Green Hornet is Related to the Lone Ranger

The Green Hornet character premiered on January 31, 1936 over the airwaves of Detroit radio station Wxyz, the same outlet that started broadcasting “The Lone Ranger” three years earlier. Though both featured masked heroes and helpful sidekicks (Tonto and Kato), this series was designed to feature one white-collar man taking down political corruption during the Great Depression. Only in 1947, in an episode titled “Too Hot to Handle,” were the two heroes (both created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker) officially connected in the story.

Jerry Bruckheimer just released his new website via Twitter. “Soft launch of the new JBFilms.com, visit http://bit.ly/eiNV1q What do you think? Rt with your feedback.’ On the site was the first logo for his upcoming Lone Ranger project, with Johnny Depp attached. Gore Verbinski is confirmed to direct Lone Ranger. Johnny Depp is attached to play Tonto. There isn’t any word on further casting or when the production will start.

Based on the American radio and television show created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker. The title character is a masked Texas Ranger in the American Old West, who gallops about righting injustices with the aid of his clever, laconic Native American companion Tonto. Departing on his white horse Silver, the Ranger would shout “Hi-yo, Silver, away!” The horse would then gallop toward the setting sun, followed by someone asking, “Who was that masked man,...

Jerry Bruckheimer Films has debuted a logo for the upcoming adaptation of The Lone Ranger.

The tagline on the site reads, “The Legend Returns.”

Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski has been hired to adapted the classic TV show film adaption for the big screen, and Johnny Depp is attached to play Tonto, the Lone Ranger’s sidekick. There’s still no word on who will play the Lone Ranger, but at one point George Clooney was rumored to be in talks.

Originally created as a radio play in 1933 by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker, the last big screen iteration of the character was in 1981 with The Legend of the Lone Ranger, directed by the late William A. Fraker.

The character gained widespread notoriety between 1949 and 1957 on ABC television, as Clayton Moore donned the mask each week to fight crime and corruption in the old west.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has debuted a logo for Gore Verbinski's upcoming adaptation of The Lone Ranger. Or possibly, in this adaptation, Lone Ranger, as he is so alone that he can't be accompanied by the definite article. Johnny Depp is attached as Tonto and the film is currently searching for a Lone Ranger. Depp has signaled that he would be interested in Brad Pitt or George Clooney getting the role. Filming on Lone Ranger is expected to begin later this year with a release slated for sometime in 2012. Hit the jump to check out the full logo. Image from Bruckheimer's official website via HeyUGuys. For those who aren’t familiar with The Lone Ranger, here’s a brief synopsis [via Wikipedia]: The Lone Ranger is an American radio and television show created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker. The title character is a masked Texas Ranger in the American Old West,...

In theaters this weekend, The Green Hornet is yet another reinvention of the popular crime fighter originally created by George W. Trendel and Fran Striker in the mid 1930s. A perennial favorite, the character started out on radio, moved on to B-movie serials, comic books and, finally, conquered television in the ’60s with a campy primetime series. This time around, the [...]...

The official website for Jerry Bruckheimer Films has revealed the new logo for his forthcoming Disney film The Lone Ranger, which you see above.

Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) has been hired to adapt the character for the big screen, with Johnny Depp already slated to play the role of Tonto, the Lone Ranger's trusted colleague.

What isn't yet known, however, is who will play the title character, though as an exercise in wish-fulfilment a few names have been bandied about, including George Clooney, Jon Hamm, Aaron Eckhart, Matthew McConaughey, Christian Bale, Timothy Olyphant, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon…and even Will Smith.

Our personal view is that most of the above actors come with too much name recognition and that the producers might be better to go with an unknown. Typically that isn't Bruckheimer's way, however, and with Depp playing the part of Tonto, a heavyweight actor is likely...

Sony Pictures is getting ready to release its upcoming film, The Green Hornet, starring Seth Rogen with direction by Michel Gondry, written by Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The movies will follow, Britt Reid (Seth Rogen), the son of wealthy newspaper publisher James Reid (Tom Wilkinson), is a ne’er do well playboy who inherits a media empire after his father dies. One day, he meets an employee named Kato (Jay Chou), who is more than he appears. After realizing how he and Kato are not using their abilities to the fullest, Britt decides that the two should become crimefighters, taking on the identity of the Green Hornet. With the help of his new secretary, Lenore Case (Cameron Diaz), Britt discovers that Russian criminal Benjamin Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz) controls the city’s criminal underworld. Meanwhile, Chudnofsky, paranoid that he is losing his edge as a crime boss, has united all of...

Green Hornet gets new clips and TV spots in high definition as well as a revised tour reel of the Black Beauty which is based on the 1965 Chrysler Crown Imperial. The car has a Racetrans Turbo 400 transmition and a Chevy Zz/454 Custom V8, dyno tested to 507 horsepower! That'll do nicely, thanks Sony, I expect delivery some time this week. The Sony Pictures release opens on January 14th, 2011 and stars Seth Rogen, Cameron Diaz, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Edward Furlong, Tom Wilkinson, Edward James Olmos, Chad Coleman, David Harbour and Analeigh Tipton. Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen wrote the screenplay for "The Green Hornet" based on the characters created by Fran Striker and George Trendle...

Green Hornet gets new clips and TV spots in high definition as well as a revised tour reel of the Black Beauty which is based on the 1965 Chrysler Crown Imperial. The car has a Racetrans Turbo 400 transmition and a Chevy Zz/454 Custom V8, dyno tested to 507 horsepower! That'll do nicely, thanks Sony, I expect delivery some time this week. The Sony Pictures release opens on January 14th, 2011 and stars Seth Rogen, Cameron Diaz, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Edward Furlong, Tom Wilkinson, Edward James Olmos, Chad Coleman, David Harbour and Analeigh Tipton. Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen wrote the screenplay for "The Green Hornet" based on the characters created by Fran Striker and George Trendle...

3 new Asian character posters have been added for Sony Pictures' "The Green Hornet" action comedy. The Michel Gondry ("Be Kind Rewind") film debuts on January 14th and stars Seth Rogen, Cameron Diaz, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Edward Furlong, Tom Wilkinson and Edward James Olmos. Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen wrote the screenplay, based on the characters created by Fran Striker and George Trendle. Britt Reid is the son of La's most prominent and respected media magnate and perfectly happy to maintain a directionless existence on the party scene -- until his father mysteriously dies, leaving Britt his vast media empire. Striking an unlikely friendship with one of his father's more industrious and inventive employees, Kato, they see their chance to do something meaningful for the first time in their lives: fight crime. But in order to do this, they decide to become criminals themselves -- protecting the law by breaking it,...

3 new Asian character posters have been added for Sony Pictures' "The Green Hornet" action comedy. The Michel Gondry ("Be Kind Rewind") film debuts on January 14th and stars Seth Rogen, Cameron Diaz, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Edward Furlong, Tom Wilkinson and Edward James Olmos. Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen wrote the screenplay, based on the characters created by Fran Striker and George Trendle. Britt Reid is the son of La's most prominent and respected media magnate and perfectly happy to maintain a directionless existence on the party scene -- until his father mysteriously dies, leaving Britt his vast media empire. Striking an unlikely friendship with one of his father's more industrious and inventive employees, Kato, they see their chance to do something meaningful for the first time in their lives: fight crime. But in order to do this, they decide to become criminals themselves -- protecting the law by breaking it,...

Less than a week after Columbia Pictures unleashed a ton of new promotional materials for director Michel Gondry's upcoming The Green Hornet adaptation, two new preview clips from the movie have been released online and three new TV spots have hit the airwaves.

Based on the classic masked crimefighter created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker that first appeared in a radio serial in the 1930s, The Green Hornet stars Seth Rogen as Britt Reid, a lackadaisical party boy who inherits his father's (Tom Wilkinson) publishing empire and decides to use his fortune to fight crime. With the help of skilled martial artist and weapons expert Kato (Jay Chou) and his resourceful assistant, Lenore (Cameron Diaz), the Green Hornet sets his sights on the city's top crime figure, Benjamin Chudnofsky (Academy Award-winner Christoph Waltz), who aims to unite the city's criminal element into a supermafia.

Next Showing: The Green Hornet...

Sneak Peek another new poster supporting Columbia Pictures upcoming release "The Green Hornet", opening January 14, 2011.

The $90 million, superhero-comedy feature, from Original Film, is based on the character of the same name created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, is directed by Michel Gondry, starring Seth Rogen in the title role, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Evan Goldberg. Supporting actors include Jay Chou as 'Kato', Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz, Edward Furlong, Edward James Olmos, Angela Bassett, David Harbour and Tom Wilkinson.

"...'Britt Reid' (Rogen), son of wealthy newspaper publisher 'James Reid' (Wilkinson), is a ne'er do well playboy who inherits a media empire after his father dies. One day, he meets an employee named 'Kato' (Chou), who is more than he appears. After realizing how he and Kato waste their abilities, Britt decides that the two should become crimefighters, taking on the identity of the 'Green Hornet'.

Sneak Peek new international posters supporting the upcoming 3D feature "The Green Hornet", based on the character of the same name, created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker.

From Original Film and Columbia Pictures, "The Green Hornet" is directed by Michael Gondry, starring Canadian actor Seth Rogen in the title role.

Screenplay is by Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Supporting actors include Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz, Edward James Olmos, Angela Bassett, David Harbour and Tom Wilkinson.

The film will be released in North America and the UK, January 14, 2011 and in Australia January 20, 2011, in RealD Cinema and IMAX 3D.

"...'Britt Reid' (Rogen), the son of wealthy newspaper publisher 'James Reid (Wilkinson), is a ne'er do well playboy who inherits a media empire after his father dies."One day, he meets an employee named 'Kato' (Chou), who is more than he appears. After realizing how he and Kato waste their abilities,...