20Q: Armie Hammer

The new Lone Ranger talks Big Macs and Vespas and tells how to tie anyone—including his wife—in knots

- By Brantley Bardin, Photography by Lorenzo Agius

Q1: You’re playing the lead in The Lone Ranger, which debuted 80 years ago, on radio. You’re 26. Were you even aware of the character when you were a kid?

HAMMER: My dad called me kemo sabe when I was a kid. I also remember hearing Lone Ranger jokes, including one that goes like this: The Lone Ranger and Tonto are riding through the desert, going over dune after dune and getting a little lost. They go over one last dune and all of a sudden there are Indian braves all around the top, completely circling them. The Lone Ranger panics, looks at Tonto and says, “Tonto, we’re surrounded! What do we do?” Tonto goes, “What do you mean by ‘we,’ white man?” and runs away.

Q2: Let’s talk Johnny Depp. He plays Tonto, and his interpretation of the role is reportedly entirely different from the 1950s television incarnation.