LOS ANGELES: Changes are afoot in Hollywood’s famed Walt Disney Studios, with an exit at the top level. Reportedly, producer Jerry Bruckheimer is set to split from Disney in 2014.
Following the disaster of his last film ‘The Lone Ranger’, starring Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer and Helena Bonham Carter, the studio announced that they are calling off the “first-look deal” with Bruckheimer in 2014.
‘The Lone Ranger’, which was mounted on a lavish budget of approximately $250 million, managed to rake in only a disappointing $89 million net at the American box office.
Nevertheless, Bruckheimer insists the split is not because of the failure of ‘The Lone Ranger’. He said, “It’s not about Lone Ranger. It’s more about the types of movies Disney is making, and the types of movies we want to make, in addition to ‘Pirates’.”
Jerry also added that the next installment of the ‘Pirates of The Caribbean’ series will still be co-produced by his firm and Disney. “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,” said Bruckheimer.
Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn said that this was a strategic decision on the Studio’s part. “This is about a long-term relationship with lots of pluses and minuses. ‘The Lone Ranger’ certainly didn’t help things, but we all have our wins and our losses, and this is an overall thing related to the company’s supply of projects from all these other places,” Horn said.
Horn also added that they would continue to work together in the future, because Bruckheimer is a “Hollywood legend.”
“Jerry is one of the most respected and prolific producers working in the motion picture industry, and we have had an incredibly successful collaboration over the past two decades. He is a friend to many of us here at Disney. We will continue to work together in the future, and we look forward to seeing more of the films that have made Jerry Bruckheimer a Hollywood legend.”
