Savings & Lone

It already has an opening date, December 21, 2012 - but at present there hasn't been a foot of film shot yet on Disney's new Western remake, The Lone Ranger. Nor  will there be, it seems, in the immediate future.

Despite re-uniting Pirates of the Caribbean personnel - Johnny Depp, as the masked cowboy's sidekick, Tonto, director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer - the studio is currently quaking at the projected cost of the production, $200m and rising. Might it be possible to trim the cost somewhat before the 'off' is the question being asked.

Apparently it still remains "a priority project" for Disney - but everyone, including The Lone Ranger himself, Armie Hammer - who doubled up as the square-jawed Winklevoss brothers in The Social Network - is now waiting to see which way the Mouse House will jump.