Disney announces release dates for The Muppets 2, Maleficent, 1952, and Pirates 5

The next few years are going to be very profitable for Walt Disney Pictures. The studio animation, live action, Marvel, and STAR WARS movie all planned for release between now and 2015, so scheduling is going to have to be decided well in advance to ensure they stay on target. With that in mind, here are some newly announced release dates for Disney in the coming years.

THE MUPPETS 2 is scheduled to open on March 21, 2014.

Brad Bird‘s secret project, 1952, is scheduled to open on December 19, 2014 in 3D.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 5 is scheduled to open on July 10, 2015.

2015 is going to be insane. We will get STAR WARS: EPISODE VII, THE AVENGERS 2, and PIRATES 5 within 12 months of each other. Something tells me Disney is going to need to open some new accounts to hold all that dough.

Disney also announced some other changes as well:

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY will now be released in 3D. Their release dates will not change. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER will pick up where THE AVENGERS leaves off, as Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world. The film stars Chris Evans in the title role and will be directed by brothers Anthony and Joe Russo. James Gunn directs GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY which features an unlikely cast of characters who must team up in order to defeat a cosmic force of epic proportions.

Angelina Jolie‘s MALEFICENT will be released in 3D as well and moves dates from March 14, 2014 to July 2, 2014 The film stars Jolie as Maleficent, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Miranda Richardson, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville. The untold story of Disney’s most beloved villain from the 1959 classic SLEEPING BEAUTY, reveals the events that hardened Maleficent’s heart and drove her to curse the baby,

Disney also announced that the theatrical 3D re-release of THE LITTLE MERMAID, which was slated for September 13, 2013 has been cancelled. I would assume this is due to the declining box office for the 3D releases of old films.

However you look at it, Disney is the studio to emulate these days. They have gone from an animation only relic to the biggest studio on the planet. I can only imagine what we can expect from them in the future.