The Walt Disney Company is ending its long-standing first-look deal with mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the studio announced on Thursday.

The deal expires next year. The decision follows years of the successful “Pirates of the Caribbean” and other projects, but comes right on the heels of an expensive flop this summer produced by Bruckheimer, “Lone Ranger.”

Also read: ‘The Lone Ranger’ Could Force Disney to Take $190M Writedown in Q4.

The studio said Disney and Bruckheimer will continue working together on various projects including the fifth installment of “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Disney is looking to focus on its branded properties including Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, while “Bruckheimer is looking to produce more mature films outside the scope of the Disney brand,” read a studio statement.

“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,” said Alan Horn, chairman of the Walt Disney Studios. “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.”

Also read: ‘Lone Ranger’ Fallout: Jerry Bruckheimer May Lose Final Cut on ‘Pirates 5′ (Exclusive)

Bruckheimer epitomizes Hollywood blockbuster films, and has made many of the biggest of the past decade at Disney, including “Pearl Harbor,” “Armageddon,” Con Air” and “The Rock.” He is associated with a certain Hollywood era, that of big-budget pictures with huge explosions and worldwide box office performances. But the “Lone Ranger” flop seemed like a death knell of sorts – for a certain kind of film, with a huge budget, a movie star but no franchise base behind it.

Said Bruckheimer: “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.’”

Also read: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer Blame Critics for ‘Lone Ranger’ Flop (Video)

See our video about Bruckheimer below and here’s the official announcement:

Disney and Bruckheimer to End First-Look Film Deal in 2014

The Walt Disney Studios and Jerry Bruckheimer have decided not to renew their first-look deal when it expires next year. Disney will continue to focus on its branded properties including Disney, Pixar, Marvel and now Lucasfilm, while Bruckheimer is looking to produce more mature films outside the scope of the Disney brand. Disney and Bruckheimer will continue working together on various projects including the fifth installment of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Together Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer have produced such blockbuster hits as the Pirates of the Caribbean and National Treasure films under the Disney brand as well as adult action dramas like Pearl Harbor, Armageddon, Con Air, and The Rock through the Touchstone label.

“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,” said Alan Horn, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. “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.”

“I am very appreciative of the wonderful collaboration and support I have had at The Walt Disney Company for over twenty years and the twenty-seven movies we have made together. The good news is we will continue working together on Pirates of the Caribbean, National Treasure and other projects we have developed together at the studio,” said Jerry Bruckheimer. “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.”

Watch TheWrap’s video which predicted that Disney and Bruckheimer could split: “Why the Failure of ‘Lone Ranger’ Flop Could End Golden Age of the Hollywood Producer”:





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Why the Failure of 'Lone Ranger' May End Golden Age of Hollywood Producers (Video)