Disney Can’t Move Forward With 'Pirates 6' Until Tom Cruise Says So

For years, Pirates of the Caribbean 6 has felt like the ultimate “we’ll believe it when we see it” Disney sequel. The franchise has been stuck in development limbo so long that fans have almost stopped expecting it to actually happen. Every few months, a new rumor pops up, a new lead actor gets floated, and then nothing comes of it.

But now, there’s a new twist that actually makes sense—and it has nothing to do with Captain Jack Sparrow, Disney politics, or even script problems.

Instead, the biggest obstacle standing between Disney and Pirates of the Caribbean 6 might be Tom Cruise.

And if producer Jerry Bruckheimer is being honest, Cruise’s upcoming sequel plans could be the reason Pirates 6 keeps getting pushed further down the line.

Disney Has Been Quiet, But the Franchise Isn’t Dead

Even though the last film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), came out nearly a decade ago, Disney has never officially shut the door on the series. The problem is that the franchise has become a complicated mess behind the scenes. As a matter of fact, reports indicate that Disney’s Dana Walden wants to move forward with the Pirates of the Caribbean sequel as one of her first major projects in her new role.

The original films were driven heavily by Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow, and once Depp became a controversial figure, Disney seemed unsure of how to move forward. Fans were divided, executives hesitated, and the franchise went from being one of Disney’s biggest money-makers to being one of its biggest unanswered questions.

Still, the brand is too valuable to abandon completely.

Disney knows Pirates is a proven blockbuster franchise, and at a time when studios are relying more than ever on recognizable IP, the pressure to revive it keeps growing.

Jerry Bruckheimer Confirms the Real Problem

Recently, longtime producer Jerry Bruckheimer gave a major update on where Pirates of the Caribbean 6 actually stands—and his answer was surprisingly blunt.

According to Bruckheimer, Pirates 6 is currently competing directly with another major sequel project he’s producing: Top Gun 3. He described it as “a horse race,” saying Top Gun is “a hair ahead” right now.

That may not sound like a huge deal at first, but it explains everything.

Bruckheimer is one of the most powerful producers in Hollywood, but he’s also not producing movies at the rapid-fire pace he once did. He’s still active, but at 82 years old, he can’t realistically push multiple massive blockbuster sequels through development and production at the same time without one taking priority.

And right now, that priority belongs to Tom Cruise.

Tom Cruise’s Sequel Is Holding the Keys

If you’re Disney, this is probably the most frustrating kind of delay. Not because the project is broken, but because the project is simply… waiting its turn.

Bruckheimer revealed that the Top Gun 3 script is expected “shortly,” meaning that movie is much closer to actually entering production.

That’s where Cruise comes in.

Tom Cruise doesn’t just star in these movies—he effectively drives them. He’s famously hands-on, heavily involved in planning, and deeply invested in making sure the final product meets his standards. When Cruise commits to a sequel, the entire project becomes a massive machine that revolves around him.

And because Cruise is one of the few actors left who can still guarantee a major box office run, Hollywood bends around his schedule.

So if Top Gun 3 is gearing up first, then Pirates 6 is forced to sit in the background until that production clears out of the way.

In other words, whether Disney likes it or not, Tom Cruise is now controlling the pace of Pirates of the Caribbean 6.

Disney Was Hoping Pirates Would Move Faster

This timing couldn’t be worse for Disney, because there have been recent reports suggesting that the company wants Pirates back in theaters sooner rather than later.

As mentioned above, there’s been a growing sense that Disney’s upcoming leadership era is going to prioritize reviving major franchises. The company is investing heavily in theme park expansions and blockbuster content, and a recognizable name like Pirates of the Caribbean fits perfectly into that strategy.

But even if Disney wants to rush the process, they can’t force Jerry Bruckheimer to split his attention evenly. If Top Gun 3 gets moving first, Pirates stays stuck in development mode.

And unfortunately for Disney, Top Gun is the safer bet right now.

Pirates 6 Has Already Been Through Too Many False Starts

Part of the reason fans don’t fully trust this movie is because Disney has teased so many different directions.

At one point, Margot Robbie was reportedly being eyed to help launch a new era of the franchise, but that version never materialized. Now, those rumors have heated back up, suggesting that Robbie is now the favorite to be the new lead in the sequel.

There have also been rumors about reworking the story, blending old concepts with new characters, and potentially shifting the focus away from Jack Sparrow entirely. The result is a sequel that has spent years being talked about, but never truly built.

Now, there is at least a more concrete sign of movement: reports suggest that Krysty Wilson-Cairns, known for her work on 1917 (2019), has been attached to write the script. That’s a serious writer, and it suggests Disney isn’t treating this as a throwaway reboot.

But even with a writer attached, Disney can’t film a movie without the producer being fully committed. And Bruckheimer has already made it clear which project is winning the race right now.

What This Means for the Release Date

So, when could Pirates of the Caribbean 6 actually happen?

Based on Bruckheimer’s comments, it’s pretty obvious that Disney isn’t getting this movie anytime soon. If Top Gun 3 enters production by late 2026 or early 2027, that could push Pirates 6 into 2028 as the earliest possible next step.

From there, you’re looking at a release window closer to 2029 or even 2030.

That might sound extreme, but it lines up with how long these films take to make—especially if Disney is trying to rebuild the franchise with a new direction.

And at that point, the gap between Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) and the next sequel could be more than a decade.