Dwight Yoakam nears 'Lone Ranger' villain

By Adnan Tezer Jul 20, 2011, 18:56 GMT

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 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 the show, ("Kemo Sabe," "Hi-ho, Silver, away," "Who was that masked man, anyway?") have become embedded in pop culture as well as the theme music from the William Tell Overture.

Reruns of the original TV show are still broadcast today, sixty-two years after their initial broadcast.

Yoakam's screen credits include "Sling Blade," "Panic Room" and "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada."