Armie Hammer (The Social Network) is in early negotiations to star as the Lone Ranger in Walt Disney Pictures’ The Lone Ranger.

Hammer will star opposite Johnny Depp (Rango) in a new film based on the character created by George W. Trendle in 1933.

The Lone Ranger follows a masked Texas Ranger (Hammer) in the American Old West who gallops about righting injustices with the aid of his clever, laconic Native American companion, Tonto (Depp).

Gore Verbinski (The Mexican) is attached to direct, with production expected to begin once Depp has completed work on Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows.

Source: Deadline