Lone Ranger's New Budget Woes

Following an almost year long budget battle to keep it afloat, Heat Vision reports that inside sources on Gore Verbinski's big-budget re-telling of "The Lone Ranger" say the pic is now running days or possibly weeks behind its 120-day shooting schedule.

In fact, they claim the budget is already back to its original $250 million tally and may have now even topped it.

The iconic Ranger is among a group of Texas Rangers chasing down a gang of outlaws led by Butch Cavendish. The gang ambushes the Rangers, seemingly killing them all. One survivor (The Social Network's Armie Hammer) is found, however, by an American Indian named Tonto (Johnny Depp), who nurses him back to health.

The Ranger, wearing a mask and riding a white stallion named Silver, teams up with Tonto to bring the unscrupulous gang and others of that ilk to justice.

The character began as a 1930s radio show before becoming a star is several movie serials, TV shows, comic strips comic books, toys, novels and more.

Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road) Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio wrote the script.

With these woes Verbinski is now once again being asked to cut several scenes and rewrites are underway. The fault of the cost swell is said to be due to severe weather disruptions causing set damage, and construction of period trains for the film rather than hiring or purchasing any existing railroad vehicles.

Helena Bonham Carter, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale Tom Wilkinson James Frain Harry Treadaway, Matt O'Leary, W. Earl Brown Leon Rippy Ruth Wilson and William Fichtner as the villain co-star

Jerry Bruckheimer produces the pic.

Production is not expected to be completed until August, but that still gives the team plenty of time to have the film in the cineplex by its July 3rd 2013 release date.