Logo

Disney Breaking Up With Bruckheimer in Wake of ‘Lone Ranger’ Disaster

Sep 20, 2013  •  Post A Comment

Disney and veteran film and TV producer Jerry Bruckheimer are going their separate ways. They announced Thursday that they will not renew their first-look deal, which expires next year, the New York Daily News reports.

Bruckheimer, the producer of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, "will branch out in 2014. Speculation has arisen that ‘Lone Ranger’s’ terrible box-office performance was a factor in the decision," the story reports.

Bruckheimer is behind a string of popular TV shows including the "CSI" franchise, "Without a Trace," "Cold Case" and "The Amazing Race," along with hit movies including "Beverly Hills Cop," "Top Gun" and "Flashdance," not to mention the "Pirates" movies.

"Bruckheimer’s most recent movie for Disney, ‘The Lone Ranger,’ is considered the biggest box-office flop of 2013 and may have been a factor in the decision to part ways next year," the story reports.

Bruckheimer told The Hollywood Reporter: “It’s time for us to tackle all kinds of movies, not just Disney movies. We’re still working on ‘Pirates’ and hopefully ‘National Treasure,’ and we still have development at Disney."

The Daily News report adds: "Hollywood’s pre-eminent producer of tentpoles denied that the impending split was sparked by the huge disappointment of his last project with Disney — the box-office flop ‘The Lone Ranger.’ Disney told analysts last month that the studio is anticipating a loss of between $160 million and $190 million for the movie."

The piece notes that with Disney acquiring Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, it has other sources to turn to for its next blockbuster.

"But overall, there’s no doubt that the Bruckheimer business has been good for the studio," the report adds. "Besides the ‘Pirates’ movies and ‘National Treasure,’ the producer also brought blockbusters ‘Con Air’ and ‘Armaggedon’ through the studio’s now-defunct Touchstone banner."

The breakup reportedly will not affect the fifth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, although the Daily News notes that the project was recenly moved back from its original summer 2015 release date, reportedly because of issues involving the script.

jerry-bruckheimer.pngJerry Bruckheimer

Your Comment

Email (will not be published)