Can Gore Verbinski justify a $250 million western?

Disney has pulled the plug on director Gore Verbinski's $250 million "The Lone Ranger" and is demanding tens of millions of dollars in budget cuts.

"At World's End" grossed $963 million.

Based solely on Verbinski's record with Disney's "Pirate of the Caribbean" franchise, one might wonder why Disney is so worried. Didn't the first three films directed by Verbinski gross a combined $2.6 billion?

And don't forget that actor Johnny Depp is set to star as the Lone Ranger's companion Tonto. Depp's last two films with Disney--"Alice in Wonderland" in 2010 and "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" this year--each grossed more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office.

Looking at the ever-increasing budgets of the first three "Pirates" films--$140 million, $225 million and $300 million--it's understandable that the studio might be concerned with another $250 million project. And since Depp isn't portraying the lead character here, perhaps his star power may not provide quite the bang (no actor has been named to play the Lone Ranger).

Mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer is also attached, as he has been with all four "Pirates" films. But he also helped deliver two less-than-stellar box office results to Disney last summer with "Prince of Persia" and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."

In the end, however, the decision to take a step back--and perhaps cut their losses altogether--has nothing to do with Verbinski, Depp or Bruckheimer. It has everything to do with the fact that "The Lone Ranger" is a western.

Gore Verbinski trims 'The Lone Ranger' budget, but still millions above Disney's goal

Director Gore Verbinski is trying to salvage his big-budgeted "Lone Ranger" project after Disney pulled the plug Friday.

Johnny Depp

Featuring actor Johnny Depp ("Alice in Wonderland') as the Lone Ranger's companion Tonto and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the project's reported $250 budget million led the studio to halt production.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has reportedly given Verbinski a week to retool the script and cut at least $30 million from the budget. Citing a source, the report states Verbinski has the budget down to around $242 million with the director and Bruckheimer giving up $10 million in fees.

Unfortunately for the future of the project, that seems like the bulk of the cuts Verbinski is willing to make.

Big-budget westerns have not fared well, with last month's "Cowboys & Aliens," a western/sci-fi mash-up, bringing in only $84 million domestically to date on a budget of $163 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

With neither side looking like it's going to blink, the future of the project looks very much in doubt at this point. "The Lone Ranger" had been set for a Dec. 21, 2012, release.

Disney pulling the plug on 'The Lone Ranger'?

Disney has at least temporarily pulled the plug on production of its big-budgeted adaptation of "The Lone Ranger," which was set for released in December 2012.

Johnny Depp

The project features producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Gore Verbinski and actor Johnny Depp, who teamed together for a little project called "Pirates of the Caribbean."

According to reports, the issue at hand is one of money, namely the large budget, which is in the range of $200 million.

The concern surrounds the fact that the film is a western, which has not exactly lit the box office aflame lately. "Cowboys & Aliens," which was a western/sci-fi mash-up, has brought in $76 million domestically to date on a budget of $163 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

"Pirates of the Caribbean," on the other hand, includes two of the 10 films to cross the billion-dollar mark. Verbinski directed the first three films of the franchise. He and Depp re-teamed earlier this year for the animated western "Rango," which drew $123 million domestically and $242 million worldwide on a budget of $135 million.

Right now it's not clear if either side will be quick to blink, either Disney and its demands for a smaller budget or Bruckheimer and Verbinski, who seems to be sticking to their guns. Muddying the waters is the fact that Disney needs to keep Depp, who is set to star as the Ranger's Native American companion Tonto, happy so he'll be back for a fifth "Pirates" film.

Incidentally, Paramount Pictures announced this week it is releasing the adaptation of Max Brook's "World War Z" the same weekend as "The Lone Ranger," on Dec. 21, 2012.

Johnny Depp close to signing for fifth 'Pirates' film

Captain Jack Sparrow may sail again.

The Wrap is reporting "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Johnny Depp is close to a deal to star in a fifth film in the franchise which to date has brought home just shy of $3.7 billion in booty from the worldwide box office and includes two of the eight films to cross the $1 billion mark.

"Pirates" has earned $3.7 billion to date.

According to the report, producer Jerry Bruckheimer is hard at work on a script for the fifth film, a rough draft of which has been completed, and any deal will be contingent on receiving Depp's approval.

The fourth installment, "On Stranger Tides," is still pillaging the box office and is the top grossing film of 2011 so far.

Last month it was reported that "On Stranger Tides" director Rob Marshall had been offered the chance to helm the fifth installment but had not yet signed, leading Disney to begin shopping for a new director. Gore Verbinski directed the first three "Pirates of the Carribbean" films.

According to the report, citing "reliable sources," Disney's "dream" choice would be Tim Burton ("Alice in Wonderland"), but they are also looking at Shawn Levy ("Night at the Museum"), Sam Raimi ("Spider-Man"), Chris Weitz ("The Golden Compass"), and Alfonso Cuaron ("Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban").

Disney shopping for a new 'Pirates' director?

Disney is reportedly shopping around for a new director for a fifth "Pirates of the Caribbean" film.

"On Stranger Tides" opened May 20.

Cinema Blend is reporting "On Stranger Tides" director Rob Marshall has been offered the chance to helm the fifth installment but has not yet signed. Gore Verbinski directed the first three "Pirates of the Carribbean" films.

According to the report, citing "reliable sources," Disney's "dream" choice would be Tim Burton ("Alice in Wonderland"), but they are also looking at Shawn Levy ("Night at the Museum"), Sam Raimi ("Spider-Man"), Chris Weitz ("The Golden Compass"), and Alfonso Cuaron ("Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban").

Actor Johnny Depp has said in interviews he is willing to consider another tour as Captain Jack Sparrow, but would like to see some time between movies. He also said the script would have to meet his approval.

Geoffrey Rush, who plays Captain Barbossa, recently said he feels there are plenty of stories left in the franchise.

Although the latest film is trailing its predecessor at the U.S. box office, it continues to break records overseas and to date has amassed $641 million worldwide. Suffice to say, Disney wants more.

I preferred Verbinski's films to Marshall's turn in the franchise, and if Weitz or Cuaron are actually interested, either would be a coup for Disney. As for Burton, he tends to put such a distinctive mark on his films, I don't think it would feel cohesive with the rest of the franchise.