An undated publicity photo from Disney/Bruckheimer Films, shows actors, Johnny Depp, left, as Tonto, a spirit warrior on a personal quest, who joins forces in a fight for justice with Armie Hammer, as John Reid, a lawman who has become a masked avenger. In New Mexico, where some of the movie was filmed, the Navajo presented Depp, his co-star Hammer, director Gore Verbinski and producer Bruckheimer with Pendleton blankets to welcome them to their land. Elsewhere, the Comanche people of Oklahoma made Depp, an honorary member. The film releases summer 2013.SEATTLE (AP) – Gyasi Ross grew up decades after the “Lone Ranger” aired on TV, but his friends would still call him “Tonto” when they teased him.
“Everybody understands who Tonto is, even if we hadn’t seen the show, and we understood it wasn’t a good thing,” said Ross, a member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana who lives and has family in the Suquamish Tribe, outside Seattle. “Why else would you tease someone with that?”
The making of a new “Lone Ranger” Disney movie, and the announcement that Johnny Depp is playing sidekick Tonto, have reawakened feelings about a character that has drawn much criticism over the years as being a Hollywood creation guilty of spreading stereotypes.
The film is still in production, but Indian Country has been abuzz about it for months, with many sharing opinions online and a national Native publication running an occasional series on the topic.
Some Native Americans welcome the new movie, which is slated for release next summer. Parts were filmed on the Navajo Nation with the tribe’s support, and an Oklahoma tribe recently made Depp an honorary member.