2011 was a sad year for devotees of ‘Paleface Johnny Depp’. For after the ‘P.J.D.’ wonder of wonders that was Alice in Wonderland the previous year, loyal P.J.D. followers were forced to endure a fallow 12 months. But good cheer for those esoteric loons is on the horizon, as not only is Depp back in paleface for Dark Shadows (due out in May), but the superstar will also be whiting up for The Lone Ranger, due 2013 – at least if the first unveiled picture is any indication.

Having briefly flirted with disaster when Disney threatened to pull the plug on account of a budget that was reportedly pushing a quarter of a billion dollars, The Lone Ranger is now filming down New Mexico way.

Gore Verbinski is the man in the director’s chair, he re-teaming with Depp and uber-producer Jerry Bruckheimer, all of whom were, of course, involved with the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies. And it was Bruckheimer who has just released the first picture of the movie’s two stars in costume.

So that’s Depp as Native American man of mystery Tonto, looking every bit the typical Depp weirdo (whisper it quietly but: bit tiresome now, no?). Next to him is Armie Hammer who is not, in fact, wearing mask and hat to try and disguise his identity following the unintentional hilarity of his role in J. Edgar, but rather because he is playing the title role of the Lone Ranger.

Sadly, no sign of Silver. Guess he must be away… sorry.

Having originally been scheduled for a December 2012 release, The Lone Ranger is now due out 31 May 2013.

Source: Twitter