Johnny Depp Gets His Tonto On in New Lone Ranger Trailer

Channeling just a little bit of the goofiness that he brought to Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp gives his take on the Native American character Tonto in the latest trailer for The Lone Ranger.

In the latest clip for director Gore Verbinskis adaptation of the classic Western series, Tonto tells Texas Ranger John Reid (The Social Networks Armie Hammer) that he had believed the lawman dead and buried him, only to see him come back from the other side. Naturally, the two team up to fight for justice, with Depps deadpan Tonto insisting that the soon-to-be Lone Ranger shield his face with a mask.

People think you are dead? Better to stay that way, Depp advises. There come a time when good man must wear mask.

Verbinski and Depp, of course, worked together on the Pirates of the Caribbean flicks, and it looks like their chemistry has returned here albeit in a Western and with a character that could be controversial. The question remains: Will Tonto come off as a Native American stereotype, or will the film find a way to do something more nuanced with the character, which was originally created in the 1930s?

The Lone Ranger is scheduled for release July 3, 2013.

Ang! ela is a reporter for the Underwire, Wired's pop culture blog. She is also a senior editor of Longshot magazine and a contributor to Pop-Up Magazine.

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