Since it was reported that a new feature film adaptation of The Lone Ranger was on the way with Johnny Depp starring as Tonto, we have not heard anything else that would indicate forward progress. This is rather surprising, considering how long the Ranger has been around, how popular he is as a character, and the star-power of Depp. Not to mention the scale and box office numbers that any movie produced by Jerry Bruckheimer can bring to the table, as this movie is.

Now comes word that a screenwriter is now in sights to pen the script for the movie. Justin Haythe, who recently handled the adaptation of Oscar-nominated Revolutionary Road, is currently in talks to take on the job. Haythe also wrote the script for The Clearing, which starred Helen Mirren and Robert Redford, as well as Jekyll, the new film based on the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that has Keanu Reeves currently attached to star and is planned for a 2011 release.

With the news of Haythe being brought on, hopefully this project will begin to gain momentum. The Lone Ranger first appeared in 1933 on the radio, but since then has spawned everything from comics to movie serials to a TV series. It was also the inspiration for the creation of another popular old character who is currently getting a movie treatment: The Green Hornet. In fact, the Ranger’s nephew, Dan Reid, is the father of the Hornet himself, Britt Reid. That film is directed by Michel Gondry and stars Seth Rogen as the Green Hornet.

No word yet on who might be cast in the role of the Lone Ranger or when exactly we might see this movie, but this is a good sign that things are moving ahead healthily.

[Source: THR]