"The Lone Ranger"

Governor Susana Martinez and the New Mexico Film Office have announced that Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films' "The Lone Ranger", directed by Gore Verbinski, starring Johnny Depp as 'Tonto', will start principal photography in New Mexico, February 2012.

Production is planned in and around Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Shiprock and other locations around the state, filming to August 2012.

"'The Lone Ranger' is proof that New Mexico’s film industry is alive and well," said Governor Martinez.

"This administration is committed to fostering productive relationships with film studios so we can continue to offer our talented workforce and breathtaking backdrops for major productions."

"The Lone Ranger", was originally a radio, then TV series, created by George W. Trendle and developed by Fran Striker, featuring a masked Texas Ranger, his horse 'Silver' and 'Indian' companion 'Tonto'.

Episodes usually ended with a character lamenting the fact they never found out the hero's name ("Who was that masked man?"), only to be told, "Why, that was the Lone Ranger!"

Theme music used was the "cavalry charge" finale of composer Gioacchino Rossini's "William Tell Overture".

Inspiration for the name of the 'Lone Ranger' was derived from "The Lone Star Ranger", a novel by western author Zane Grey.

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