Rich Ross Departs; DISNEY Announces Two Year Slate

Preceding the departure of DISNEY Studio Chairman Rich Ross, Walt Disney Pictures Studios along with Partners, Jerry Bruckheimer and Marvel Entertainment, recently announced three upcoming projects slated for release over the next two years. 

Although Ross’ approved film slate has yet to see the light of day, he admitted in his departing email to staff, leading the DISNEY film studio “wasn’t the right professional fit.” Picked by WALT DISNEY/President CEO, Bob Iger, Ross’ success with the WALT DISNEY Company were primarily on the television side and included managing the global children’s division with over ninety exclusive family oriented channels in almost two hundred countries. No successor has been named.

THE LONE RANGER will be released in May 2013.

From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski comes Disney/Bruckheimer Films' THE LONE RANGER. Starring Johnny Depp, as Tonto, a spirit warrior on a personal quest, joins forces in a fight for justice with John Reid portrayed by Armie Hammer, a lawman who has become a masked avenger.

Maleficent To Hit Theatres on March 14, 2014

The Walt Disney Studios has announced a U.S. release date of March 14, 2014, for Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie in the title role as Disney’s ultimate villain. The live-action film explores the origins of the evil fairy Maleficent and what led her to curse Princess Aurora in Disney’s animated classic Sleeping Beauty.

Leading a team of visionary filmmakers known for creating and transporting audiences to new and exciting worlds, Academy Award®-winning production designer Robert Stromberg (Avatar, Disney’s Alice in Wonderland and Oz The Great and Powerful) will direct with a script by Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Alice in Wonderland). Maleficent is produced by Joe Roth (Disney’s Alice in Wonderland and Oz The Great and Powerful).

CAPTAIN AMERICA SEQUEL TO HIT THEATRES ON APRIL 4, 2014

The Walt Disney Studios has announced a release date for Marvel Studios’ sequel to the blockbuster Captain America: The First Avenger on April 4, 2014.  The second installment will pick-up where the highly anticipated Marvel’s The Avengers (May 4, 2012) leaves off, as Steve Rogers continues his affiliation with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D and struggles to embrace his role in the modern world.

For a taste of what’s to come don’t miss MARVEL’s THE AVENGERS exploding into theaters May 4th!

And from DreamWorks Pictures presents People Like Us – Slated for June 29, 2012!

From DreamWorks Pictures comes PEOPLE LIKE US a drama/comedy about family, inspired by true events, starring Chris Pine (“Star Trek”) as Sam, a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, whose latest deal collapses on the day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father's estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father's last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside down: He has a 30-year-old sister Frankie whom he never knew about (Elizabeth Banks). As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about this family—and re-examine his own life choices in the process

In a story inspired by true events, Sam, a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, is tasked with fulfilling his estranged father’s last wishes—delivering an inheritance to a sister he never knew he had.

PEOPLE LIKE US stars Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, Michael Hall D’Addario, Philip Baker Hall, Mark Duplass and Michelle Pfeiffer and is directed by Alex Kurtzman. PEOPLE LIKE US is produced by  Roberto Orci, Bobby Cohen, Clayton Townsend  and is written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and Jody Lambert.                                            

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LONE RANGER Photo credit: Peter Mountain

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