On The Range: Gore Verbinksi may be be reuniting with Johnny Depp on The Lone Ranger. Verbinski, who has directed Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, as well as the upcoming animated Rango, is in talks to direct the Jerry Bruckheimer production, in which Depp will play Tonto. At this point, it’s starting to seem like directors who aren’t Tim Burton or Verbinski shouldn’t even bother trying to get on a Johnny Depp project. [Deadline]
Power of Persuasion: Chap Taylor (Changing Lanes) will write Gideon’s Sword, an adaptation of an upcoming book series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. The 12-book series, the first of which will be released in February, is centered on a hero who has the ability to “convince people of almost anything.†In the story, he tries to clear his father’s name after his dad is falsely imprisoned by the NSA. Oh, and he’s also trying to “save the world at the same time.†[Heat Vision/HR]
From Across The Pond: MTV has given a pilot order to an adaptation of the British award-winning high school comedy The Inbetweeners. Brad Copeland (Arrested Development, My Name Is Earl) has been picked as writer/showrunner/executive producer, and casting for the actors is underway. The series is described as “Superbad meets Freaks and Geeks,†as it takes “a realistic look at life in high school.†The show is centered on four high school boys who are in the tricky “inbetween†social caste, “not the most cool and popular but not geeky enough to be branded uncool.†MTV is hoping this adaptation attempt will be more successful than ABC’s two years ago, which never got off the ground. [Deadline]
Help Arrives: British actor David Oyelowo has joined The Help, the Tate Taylor adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s book. He will play a Southern preacher in a cast that includes Viola Davis, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard. [Variety]
Treat Time: Treat Williams will star opposite Rachael Carpani in Lifetime’s pilot Against the Wall, a family drama set in Chicago. The series follows a policewoman (Carpani) who “causes a rift†with her three cop brothers when she makes the decision to join the Internal Affairs division. Williams will play her character’s dad, an “old-school career Chicago cop†who is angered and hurt when he finds out about his daughter’s career change. [Deadline]
Raising Ophelia: Ophelia Lovibond has joined the cast of Mr. Popper’s Penguins, the Jim Carrey family comedy directed by Mark Waters. Lovibond (Nowhere Boy), a “rising actress†in the U.K., will be playing Popper’s personal assistant in the film. [HR]
Vamps Vamps Vamps: James Merendino (SLC Punk!) will direct Vampire Summer Camp, a comedy about a musical theater competition between two summer camps, one of which is a camp for “youthful-looking vampires.†Glee meets Twilight. [Variety]