Johnny Depp Talks Tonto’s Look In ‘The Lone Ranger’
Even if you aren’t familiar with the original look of Tonto on TV’sThe Lone Ranger, it’s pretty obviousJohnny Depp’sreinterpretation of itis totally out of left field. Depp is currently sporting this look on the set ofThe Lone Rangerwith directorGore Verbinski, producerJerry BruckheimerandArmie Hammeras the title character and in a new interview, he revealed the surprising inspiration behind the striking look. Read his quotes below.
Johnny Depp spoke toEntertainment Weeklyabout the new look of Tonto (above) and revealed he was inspired by this painting byKirby SattlercalledI Am Crow, which was officially licensed for the movie.
Here’s Depp:
I’d actually seen a painting by an artist named Kirby Sattler, and looked at the face of this warrior and thought: That’s it. The stripes down the face and across the eyes … it seemed to me like you could almost see the separate sections of the individual, if you know what I mean.
He elaborated:
There’s this very wise quarter, a very tortured and hurt section, an angry and rageful section, and a very understanding and unique side. I saw these parts, almost like dissecting a brain, these slivers of the individual. That makeup inspired me.
But what about the bird hat?
It just so happened Sattler had painted a bird flying directly behind the warrior’s head. It looked to me like it was sitting on top. I thought: Tonto’s got a bird on his head. It’s his spirit guide in a way. It’s dead to others, but it’s not dead to him. It’s very much alive.
Depp also once again stated that his role as Tonto is not a stereotype or a supporting performance:
The whole reason I wanted to play Tonto is to attempt to [mess] around with the stereotype of the American Indian that has been laid out through history, or the history of cinema at the very least — especially Tonto as the sidekick, The Lone Ranger’s assistant. As you’ll see, it’s most definitelynotthat.
For more on Depp and the Sattler painting, head over toEntertainment Weekly.The Lone Rangeropens August 22, 2025.
