Ranger Rides Again....

First we were told that there was renewed optimism over the fate of Disney's "The Lone Ranger"--and then the studio was expected to announce that production on the film wold finally begin in January or February 2012...Now it's official according to THR--The film is back on track!

The fantasy Western, was once budgeted upwards of $250 million, now that will be cut down to $215 million.

To arrive at that figure the creative team involved will reduce their fees: no $20 million for Johnny Depp, no $10 million apiece for producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski as is their norm for films like this

One of several planned train sequences have been nixed, with "a number of CGI-heavy bells and whistles ...eliminated. But what's most surprising of all is that an insider tells the trade "that vendors working on the film, such as special effects houses and even hotels, are being asked to accept reduced guaranteed fees in order to secure the business of the production."

The story of the iconic character's begins 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 (Depp), who nurses him back to health

The disappointment of the big-budget "Cowboys & Aliens." had given the studio cold feet. The original 2009 script by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio had things like werewolves and other supernatural elements in it--as did Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road)'s re-writes.

The Mouuse House has not announced whether the pic  can still hit theaters by its planned holiday 2012 release date. but I would say probably not...