When Johnny Depp decided to take on the role of The Lone Ranger’s sidekick Tonto, I imagine the pitch went just like this:

Jerry Bruckheimer: We’d like you to play Tonto in the Lone Ranger picture.

Depp: I would much rather play the Lone Ranger.

Jerry Bruckheimer: If you play Tonto, you’ll get your choice of dead birds to wear on your head.

Depp: Deal.

I have to assume that’s what happened. Hollywood MEGA-producer Jerry Bruckheimer tweeted this first look at Johnny Depp as Tonto and Armie Hammer (not kidding; that’s his real name) as The Lone Ranger.

The Lone Ranger reportedly had issues coming together because of the film’s huge budget. The studio eventually put a halt to the Disney pic back in August. When director Gore Verbinski and Bruckheimer managed to reduce the budget down to a paltry $215 million, the studio gave it the green light. It’s been in production for nearly a month now, and is scheduled for release May 13, 2013.

For $215 million, Depp’s dead bird had better be made of platinum, gold, diamonds, and baby unicorns.