For years now, Disney fans have been stuck in the same exhausting cycle when it comes to Pirates of the Caribbean 6. Every few months, the rumors flare back up. Someone claims a script is in the works. Another report suggests a major casting decision is close. And then… nothing happens.
At this point, Pirates 6 has started to feel like the sequel that exists more in headlines than in reality.
But now, we finally have a clear reason why this franchise keeps stalling out—and surprisingly, it doesn’t come down to Johnny Depp, Disney executives, or the endless debate over what the next era of Pirates should look like.
It comes down to one man: Tom Cruise.
Disney’s Pirates Franchise Still Has No Clear Path Forward
It’s no secret that Disney has struggled to figure out what to do with Pirates of the Caribbean after Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). The franchise was once one of Disney’s most dependable box office machines, but the company has spent years hesitating on how to move forward.
The biggest issue has always been identity. Does Disney bring Captain Jack Sparrow back? Do they reboot completely? Do they introduce a new lead? Or do they try to blend old characters with a fresh generation?
Disney has reportedly explored several directions, including a version of the franchise that would have featured Margot Robbie as a new lead. That plan seems to be moving forward now, but it shows just how unsure the studio has been about what kind of Pirates movie audiences would actually support.
And the longer Disney waits, the harder it becomes to rebuild the excitement.
Jerry Bruckheimer’s Latest Update Changes Everything
The most interesting update recently came from longtime producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who confirmed that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is still in development, but it isn’t the studio’s top priority right now.
Instead, Bruckheimer explained that the next Pirates movie is basically in a race with another massive sequel project: Top Gun 3.
And at the moment, Top Gun 3 is winning.
Bruckheimer even suggested the script for the Tom Cruise sequel is expected soon, meaning production could begin much faster than fans might expect.
That one detail says everything Disney fans need to know.
Tom Cruise Is Running the Schedule
When people hear that Top Gun 3 is delaying Pirates 6, the first reaction is usually confusion. After all, Disney makes Pirates, while Top Gun is a completely separate franchise.
But the connection is Jerry Bruckheimer.
He isn’t just a producer attached to both projects—he’s the producer. That means his time, attention, and influence are essential. And right now, his focus is leaning toward Tom Cruise’s blockbuster sequel.
That effectively puts Tom Cruise in the driver’s seat for Disney’s Pirates timeline, even if Cruise has nothing to do with the franchise itself.
And honestly, it makes perfect sense.
Cruise is one of the last remaining Hollywood stars who can still guarantee massive box office numbers. Studios treat his projects like major events, and once a Cruise movie starts moving, everything else tends to get pushed aside.
So while Disney may want to speed up Pirates 6, the reality is that the project can’t truly launch until Bruckheimer is ready to fully commit to it.
This Could Push Pirates 6 Toward 2030
If Top Gun 3 enters production by late 2026 or early 2027, that could push Pirates 6 back even further. That means Disney may not even start seriously advancing the next Pirates installment until 2028.
And when you factor in the length of production, post-production, and marketing for a film this large, it becomes easy to imagine a release window closer to 2029 or even 2030.
That would be an unbelievable gap for a franchise that once dominated theaters.
It would also mean Disney’s next Pirates movie could arrive more than a decade after the last installment, which raises an even bigger question: will audiences still care by then?
Disney’s Biggest Sequel Might Be Stuck in Limbo
The frustrating part is that Disney likely doesn’t want to wait. The company knows the value of the Pirates brand, and it’s hard to imagine executives being thrilled about watching it sit dormant for another five years.
But this is the price Disney pays when a franchise is tied so closely to one legendary producer—and that producer is currently locked into another massive sequel.
For better or worse, Tom Cruise’s Top Gun schedule is now shaping the future of Pirates of the Caribbean 6.
And until that movie takes off, Disney’s pirates might stay docked a lot longer than fans were hoping.
