Top Maniacal Rumors of the Week

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George Clooney as the next Lone Ranger?
© Mania.com/Josh Gordon

Series: The Dark Knight, Spider-Man 4, Green Lantern

Top Maniacal Rumors: Clooney Ranger, Romero Returns and Knight Prepping

By: Jarrod Sarafin
Date: Friday, October 03, 2008

It’s time for another edition of Mania’s Most Maniacal Rumors, where we blow the lid off the week’s juiciest gossip and hush-hush industry whispers.

If you have a rumor you want to contribute, we’re all ears. Just send it to jarrod@mania.com..

George Clooney is the Next Lone Ranger?

Rumor: One of the most prolific announcements this past week was Disney confirming Johnny Depp as Tonto in their upcoming revision of The Lone Ranger. No announcements came on who was playing the title character but if this is correct, it seems Disney may be going with George Clooney.

Source: AICN

Mania Verdict: Like the link suggests, they’re strictly in the talking stages right now. It’s not a done deal but it could very well happen. Clooney has been pushing serious fare for some time now and could want to go back for a light-hearted feature like this classic character.

Romero Working on a Diary of the Dead Spin-Off?

Rumor: There were rumors of a Diary of the Dead 2. Rumors which were eventually shot down. Now, we have received word that zombie mastermind George A. Romero is indeed working on another zombie installment in his “Dead” saga and it will tie into what happened within Diary of the Dead.

Source: ShlockAroundtheClock

Mania Verdict: Judging by what Romero is saying now, the next zombie film will tie in with his last installment even if it won’t be considered a sequel. Here’s what he had to say on it.

“I’ll stick with this starting-over idea. It’ll be about three weeks in [past the outbreak] and it doesn’t start with the people in the mansion [at the end of Diary]. It starts with the blonde who drove away and the national guardsmen who robbed the people. So those are the only characters that return.”

Green Lantern Begins Shooting in the Spring?

Rumor: Another rumor popped up this week that director and screenwriter Greg Berlanti could be nearing the production debut of The Green Lantern.

Source: FirstShowing

Mania Verdict: This is likely true off previous reports over the summer, which suggest that producers have been aiming for an early 2009 production start-up. Here’s what producer Donald De Line had to say on the progress.

"He told me that 'a new draft of the script came in' and they're 'gearing up to start shooting early spring.' While it's not confirmed, he added that 'it's coming together and I'm excited about it. Hopefully we'll make it to start gate. We're really close -- really close.'"

Kirsten Dunst Ready to Return to Spider-Man 4?

Rumor: Up until a few weeks ago, there were numerous rumors that Sony would be going a new direction with a new cast and director for Spider-Man 4. Those rumors eventually died down over time and we finally heard word that Sam Raimi was returning to direct and Tobey Maguire was coming back for a substantial amount of cash. However, there was no mention of Dunst returning until now.

Source: MTV

Mania Verdict: She has been adamant that Maguire and Raimi are signed and ready before she is willing to return herself. With them back on board, she will return as well. This is all still rumor territory until Columbia Pictures officially announces the progress though.

Nolan’s Batman 3 Begins Production Early 2009?

Rumor: The Dark Knight is nearing the end of its theatrical run to enormous success and director Christopher Nolan has been on vacation, not being officially signed as of yet for the third adventure. But that’s not stopping preproduction from kicking into gear according to this latest rumor.

Source: Batman-on-Film

Mania Verdict: It seems way too early to talk when Nolan hasn’t signed officially and there was no script fleshed out other than general ideas in the minds of the Nolan brothers and Goyer. But the key for this rumor is set building and very early preproduction issues, which do tend to begin a long time before the actors get in front of any camera.

More From Mania

Johnny Depp to play Tonto in 'The Lone Ranger'

'Lone Ranger' riding to the big screen
(Friday, March 28, 2008)
The Lone Ranger
(Friday, September 8, 2006)
Lone Ranger absent from 'Green Hornet' Movie
(Monday, February 28, 2005)
LONE RANGER scribe knows westerns
(Friday, May 9, 2003)
LONE RANGER rides again on silver screen
(Wednesday, March 6, 2002)
LONE RANGER returning to TV?
(Tuesday, February 5, 2002)
THE LONE RANGER Rides Again?
(Thursday, December 6, 2001)

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Comments/Responses

ponyboy76 • Oct 03, 2008, 02:29am •

George Clooney is the man and a damn great actor, but isn`t he maybe a little too old to play the Lone Ranger? I know that he is one of those actors that can lose and gain weight for roles and I could seem him in this when he was doing stuff like The Peacemaker, but now? I don`t know. Then again, Harrison Ford still does action and Clooney is no where near his age.

I am not an uber fan of Zombie flicks all though I do watch them and Romero is the Scorsese of zombie fare so this should be cool. I do like the way he makes his movies. Not doing sequels but telling different stories in the same established universe.

Green Lantern? Bring it on! Anything is better than that JLA idea. When are the doing that Supermaxx movie about GA?

Kirsten Dunst, You suck! If you feel the strain of doing another Spidey movie is too much for you, feel free to pull out. Please! do us all a favor!
I don`t want to know anything about the next Bats movie until we get confirmation that Nolan is signed up.

chirop1 • Oct 03, 2008, 04:43am •

I just want to know one thing... Will there be nipples on the Ranger outfit? If not, I'm not interested! ;-)

eagle97 • Oct 03, 2008, 04:45am •

As far as ages go, Johnny Depp is no spring chicken himself either.

hanso • Oct 03, 2008, 04:52am •

1. Clooney would be awesome suckas!!!

2. I don't care.

3. WTF, Berlanti, the Dawson's Creek guy? All the guy has done is TV how the hell is he gonna take on GL!!?? WB better give this thing to Miller instead of this fool. My pic for GL is Alex Proyas.

4. Like I said before, if everyone else is coming back then bring her along for the last films, then recast everyone and new director.

5. This rumor was said to be FALSE. WB hasn't even had conversations with Nolan yet.

6. I'll throw this in here casue Mania didn't put it up. Snyder was talking about the 300 sequel and apparently it's still a go when Miller finishes the book. I don't remeber but I think the film would take place somewhere in between the timeline of the first film.

Dazzler • Oct 03, 2008, 04:58am •

I know Clooney was a bad Batman, but I think he would have been great as old man Batman stuff, no way they would ever do a cool story like that however.

Lone Ranger is ripe to be made. I just hope it's not like Zorro. But I did like first Zorro with Antonio Bacterias (love spell check).

We still don't know the take on GL yet? Comedy or serious? Or who is playing? I hope there is a big press release for cast.

Kirsten Dunst finally onboard? I hope they take some chances on scripting this time. They really should do Lizard, Man-wolf, monster stuff. Maybe catch a thief in the beginning 15 mins and let it go like Shocker. Scorpion would be great also with JJJ behind it. Would like more screen time with JJJ. And don't make the story too inbred that Spidey needs a personal take on everything. Origin established already lets move on.

Dazzler • Oct 03, 2008, 05:00am •

Opps for Batman....I hope for a new villian and not a rehash of past on screen ones. No CATWOMAN! PENGUIN!! or RIDDLER!!!

ponyboy76 • Oct 03, 2008, 05:37am •

hanso, check your mail.

hanso • Oct 03, 2008, 06:32am •

I did Pony. Thanks!

Dazzler - It's not a comedic take on GL. They are going the serious kick ass movie route with Hal Jordan. Check the script reviews over on IESB or LatinoReview.

silversurfer • Oct 03, 2008, 06:46am •

I think that Clooney as The Lone Ranger could work....plus if Depp is going to be Tonto, you have to have someone on board that can counter that type of persona....it should be interesting to see...I'm looking forward to that.

...another Zombie movie (yawn)

Don't screw up GL, that's all I'm saying...

Who cares about Dunst...if the next Spiderman movie sucks, there'll be plenty of blame to go around for all of them...if the movie does well, then we'll still all have a problem with Dunst, and there won't be anything we can do about it....in fact, she should be grateful that they called her back and didn't go another route with someone else...

When Nolan speaks, that's all that matters....

Myrdinn • Oct 03, 2008, 06:46am •

A serious GL?
That would be welcome.

Batman III: I'll believe it, when Nolan gets off vaction, but disappears. Riddler'd be nice.

Spiderman IV: skip Carnage. Seriously. Lizard's been set up for too long, it would be good to see him or Scorpion hit the stage.

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