Newell saddles up

Not too long ago, we learned that Jerry Bruckheimer would be doing a big screen adaptation of “The Lone Ranger” with PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN scribes Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott penning the screenplay, Johnny Depp on board to play Lone Ranger sidekick Tonto and possibly George Clooney playing the famous masked hero. Today comes word via a “Production Weekly” tweet that PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME director Mike Newell is currently in talks to direct the big screen adventures of the Ranger. Not the most obvious choice, sure, but the Brucks must be liking what Newell’s doing with PRINCE OF PERSIA.