From Craig Mazin’s Weird Script to the Sparrow Son Rumors: Everything We Know About Pirates of the Caribbean 6

LOS ANGELES — Jerry Bruckheimer just handed Pirates of the Caribbean fans a compass that finally points toward a release date, confirming the script for Pirates 6 is nearly finished while admitting the project is currently locked in a “horse race” with Top Gun 3.

The legendary producer revealed this week that the long-dormant franchise is finally catching wind, with Disney leaning into a “weird” new vision from The Last of Us creator Craig Mazin that could either save the series or bury it at the bottom of the locker.

Craig Mazin’s ‘Too Weird’ Script and the Disney Gamble

The mouse house is finally ready to gamble. For years, the sixth installment has been stuck in development hell, but the creative duo of Craig Mazin and franchise veteran Ted Elliott has reportedly cracked a story that was originally deemed too bizarre for the mainstream.

Mazin famously told reporters that he expected Disney to reject the pitch for being too “weird,” but to the surprise of everyone on Stan Twitter, the studio reportedly loved it.

This isn’t just another treasure hunt. This is a total PR move by Disney to distance the franchise from the high-budget, repetitive plots that saw 2017’s Dead Men Tell No Tales dip to $794 million—a respectable number, sure, but a significant drop from the billion-dollar standard set by the earlier films. By tapping the man who brought grit to Chornobyl, Disney is signaling a tonal shift that fans have been begging for since the Gore Verbinski era ended.

The Jack Sparrow Dilemma: Reboot or Sequel?

The million-dollar question remains: Where is Johnny Depp? Bruckheimer has been vocal about his personal crusade to bring the Captain back, but the official word is currently a stalemate.

As per an exclusive interview with Collider, the script is being written with a pivot toward a younger cast, potentially introducing Jack Sparrow’s son to carry the torch.

Johnny Depp’s involvement is currently categorized as “if he likes the way the part’s written.” There is a clear tension behind the scenes.

Disney wants a reboot that is easier and cheaper to produce without waiting for a specific A-list schedule, while Bruckheimer knows that a Pirates movie without Jack Sparrow is like a ship without a rudder.

The current plan seems to be a hybrid approach—a soft launch of a new crew that still leaves the door open for a Sparrow cameo to satisfy the fandom.

The Jerry Bruckheimer ‘Horse Race’: Pirates vs. Top Gun 3

Don’t expect a trailer tomorrow. Bruckheimer recently described the current production slate as a “horse race” between Pirates of the Caribbean 6 and Top Gun 3.

Currently, Maverick is “a hair ahead,” with Tom Cruise’s schedule taking priority in the Disney-Paramount tug-of-war. However, with the Pirates script almost locked, the production is closer to setting sail than it has been in nearly a decade.

The evidence points to a major announcement coming at D23 in August 2026.

Fans are still theorizing about the Davy Jones post-credits tease from the last film, but with the “total reboot” talk heating up, that plot thread might be left at the bottom of the ocean in favor of Mazin’s new, “weird” direction.

Whether it’s a legacy sequel or a fresh start, one thing is certain: the horizon is finally getting closer.