Disney’s planned adaptation of classic Western serial The Lone Ranger, which was due to star Armie Hammer (The Social Network) as the titular hero and Johnny Depp as his sidekick Tonto, has been shelved over budgetary concerns.

The hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean team of Depp, director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer was evidently not enough to justify the film’s reported $250m budget, which Disney wanted cut to a mere $200m.

However, with contracts already signed we think it’s unlikely that this project is gone for good – Disney’s probably just playing hardball in an attempt to force Bruckheimer et al to take another look at their demands. Either that or Johnny Depp’s demanding an $85m salary as recompense for playing a sidekick. More on this as we get it…