Extras sought for Lone Ranger flick featuring Johnny Depp.

Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:00 am | Updated: 12:39 am, Thu Feb 16, 2012.

CREEDE A Disney remake of "The Lone Ranger" starring Johnny Depp may find part of its backdrop in this historic mining town.

While production officials have made no promises that they will come to town for filming, a Los Angeles-based casting company has opened a call for extras to be used in possible shots in Creede.

Marry Hoffman, a member of the Southern Colorado Film Commission, said her group is keeping its fingers crossed, adding that shooting may spread across the San Luis Valley.

"Right now we do have five scenes that are expected to be filmed in the valley," she said.

She declined to comment on where those other locations might be out of fear the public might overwhelm the production.

A Creede town official declined to comment on the possibility of filming, citing ongoing discussions with the production company.

Should Lone Ranger shooting come to Creede, it would mark the first appearance by a major studio production in the valley since parts of the 1994 movie "Wyatt Earp" was filmed in Conejos County.

Hoffman said the direct economic impact of any filming would come with the demand for lodging.

But the intangible benefit would be a wider audience for the tourist town's scenery.

The New Mexico Film Office announced in January that primary filming for the movie would begin this month in and around Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Shiprock and other locations in that state and run into August.

The film, due to hit the theaters in summer 2013, features Depp as Tonto and Armie Hammer as the Lone Ranger. Hammer played the Winklevoss twins in "The Social Network." It's directed by Gore Verbinski, who worked with Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and, most recently, in the animated film "Rango."

Los Angeles-based Sande ! Alessi C asting will host auditions for extras at Adams State College in Alamosa on March 25 in addition to others in Durango and Colorado Springs.

For more information on the auditions, visit the Facebook page for Lone Ranger Casting.