Talking to
Deadline, Disney executive Rich Ross told the site at this weekends D23:
"I’m hoping to do it. I’m certainly hoping. I think it’s a compelling story and no one wants to work with Jerry and Johnny more than me so we’ll see how it works." As they point out, the omission of Verbinski may be a telling sign that they'll be moving ahead with the project without him. Here is an excerpt from their report.
Verbinski and Bruckheimer have been working hard to tone down or lose some of the budget-busting spectacular scenes in Justin Haythe's script. At the same time, Bruckheimer as well as reps for Depp and Verbinski have been discussing ways to defer big chunks of their upfront paydays. Salary between all three likely accounts for $30 million or more. And if the trio's back end deals weren't at cash break before, they likely will be now if the film moves forward. Because simply adjusting above-the-line salaries isn't enough to bring down what insiders told Deadline 9 days ago was a $75 million budget gap to get to the $200 million Disney wants to spend on the Western. I've heard since that the studio will agree to make The Lone Ranger at $215 million. One major question is whether Verbinski can deliver at that number and retain enough spectacle "wow" factor to give The Lone Ranger a shot at a big overseas gross and sequels.
With
Cowboys & Aliens only grossing $85.6 million domestically during its opening weekend recently and Disney spending around $450 million in total on
John Carter and
The Great And Powerful Oz, it's understandable that they're unwilling to take a big risk on the pricey Western. What would you guys think about Disney dropping Verbinski from the project? Could that potentially mean that Johnny Depp walks away from the movie as well? Be sure to share your thoughts in the usual place.
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