Bruckheimer to End Deal With Disney

LOS ANGELES â€" The Walt Disney Company and Jerry Bruckheimer said on Thursday they would end a movie deal under which Mr. Bruckheimer has produced hits like the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, and a notable flop in “The Lone Ranger.”

Mr. Bruckheimer, one of Hollywood’s most respected senior producers, has been making movies with Disney since the early 1990’s, when he was executive producer of “The Ref.”

In a statement, Disney and Mr. Bruckheimer said they would end their existing deal when it expires next year. The statement said Mr. Bruckheimer intends to produce “more mature films” than those for which he has been known at Disney, while the studio plans to focus on pictures from its Pixar, Marvel, LucasFilm, and Walt Disney units.

In the Thursday evening announcement, Mr. Bruckheimer said he planned to continue working with Disney on future “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “National Treasure” films. Though he has become known for his work on television series like the “CSI” crime dramas, Mr. Bruckheimer made his mark in the 1980s as a prolific producer, who worked in partnership with Don Simpson, now deceased, on films like “Days of Thunder” and the “Beverly Hills Cop” series.