'Lone Ranger' Failure Affects Jerry Bruckheimer's 'Pirates of the Caribbean 5;' Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, and Producer Blame Critics
Jerry Bruckheimer is still taking a beating from the box-office failure of The Lone Ranger, an unfortunate outcome that is now affecting his work on Pirates of the Caribbean 5.
After the astronomical budget Disney allotted to the Western flick, shortcomings in projected earnings has lead the company to take an alleged $160 million to $190 million in loses.
As a result, Bruckheimer has allegedly lost final cut rights on the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean 5, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This means that Bruckheimer will not have a say in the editing of the film before it is released to the public.
In addition, the budget for the next Jack Sparrow film has also seen a downgrade. Once estimated at $250 million, the high seas adventure is now down to $200 million, reports The Wrap.
Instead of being directed by former Pirates of the Caribbean helmer Gore Verbinski, who also directed The Lone Ranger, the newest installment will be led by
Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg.
Bruckheimer and Lone Ranger stars Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer have all pointed to unfair expectations and harsh critic reviews as contributors to the western's low earnings.
"I think the reviews were written seven to eight months before we released the film," Depp said, according to The Guardian. "[The critics] had expectations that it must be a blockbuster. I don't have any expectations of that. I never do.
Pirates of the Caribbean 5 is slated for a 2015 release.
