Disney to End Longtime Partnership with Jerry Bruckheimer

Chelsea Workman-Jernigan
Staff Writer

The Walt Disney Company has decided to end its long-standing, first-look deal with Jerry Bruckheimer. According to The Wrap the news comes soon after the largely unsuccessful The Lone Ranger, which might force the studio to take a $190 million writedown later this year. The deal will end in 2014, however will not get in the way of Bruckheimer working on the fifth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, which was delayed to a possible 2016 last week.

Disney announced that they wish to focus more on their branded properties, including Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, while Bruckheimer “is looking to produce more mature films outside the scope of the Disney brand.” Bruckheimer has released film series such as Pirates of the Caribbean and National Treasure through Disney, while films such as Pearl Harbor, Armageddon, and Con Air through Disney’s Touchstone.

Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn said: “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 and 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.”

Jerry has released his own statement, which read: “I am thankful to have had the opportunity to work with these amazing people at The Walt Disney Studios, many of whom have become my good friends. As we continue to make adventure films, we look forward to returning to films like Black Hawk Down, Enemy of the State, Beverly Hills Cop, and The Rock.”