“It was important to give as much back to the Native Americans as possible.”
If you need something to hold you over until the July 3 release of TheLone Ranger, you’re in luck!
Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer sat down for a live Q&A with Yahoo! News to discuss their forthcoming blockbuster The Lone Ranger.
The adventure flick centers on Native American warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) and lawman John Reid (Armie Hammer), two unlikely heroes who embark on an epic battle against greed and corruption.
During the Q&A, which took place in Las Vegas, Depp talked about how he prepared for the part of Tonto.
“I just always responded to the relationship between Tonto and the Lone Ranger,” Depp said. “It was just trying to find a way into the character that was different and not to take anything away from what the great Fran Striker and George W. Trendle [the writers that created the character] did.”
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The film also stars such respected screen veterans as Helena Bonham Carter and Tom Wilkinson.
The Lone Ranger marks the fifth time that Verbinski and Depp have collaborated. The pair previously teamed for the first three installments of Pirates of the Caribbean as well as the animated Western Rango.
Of the filmmaker’s style Depp said, “There’s just a wonderful respect for absurdity and irreverence, which is the only way to go through life.”
The Oscar-nominated actor also revealed that The Lone Ranger proved to be his most dangerous role to date.
“This is definitely the most dangerous,” he said of playing Tonto. “The most difficult thing was staying alive when you’re on a horse that’s running at a high speed and suddenly realizing you’re under it.”
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He also touched on how important it was for him to represent the Native American community in a positive manner.
“It was important to give as much back to the Native Americans as possible and to show that they have a fantastic sense of humor.”
When asked what character he’d like to take on in the future, the 49-year-old’s answer was rather surprising.
“Carol Channing,” he said to the crowd’s delight. “I mean that. She’s fantastic.”
Of course Depp could pull off such a role without batting an eye but he also offered a more fathomable upcoming character.
“I’d love to do the life story of is Don Rickles,” he added.
Funnily enough, Depp mentioned Channing again when he was asked if he dressed up as any of the characters from The Lone Ranger.
While Hammer admitted that he once pretended he was Tonto, Depp disclosed another humorous tidbit.
“I played dress-up as Carol Channing.”
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