Hollywood Icon Tom Cruise Linked to Disney’s Controversial ‘Pirates 6’

Disney fans have been arguing about Pirates of the Caribbean 6 for so long that it almost feels like the movie has already happened. The franchise has become one of Disney’s most controversial projects, not because audiences don’t want it, but because nobody can agree on what it should be.

Should Disney bring Johnny Depp back? Should the studio reboot the franchise? Should the series focus on a younger cast? Or should Disney just leave it alone entirely and let the original films stand on their own?

Those questions have hung over the franchise ever since Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). And even though Disney has teased multiple ideas over the years, nothing has actually taken shape in a serious way.

But now, there’s a surprising new name tied to the future of the franchise—one that has nothing to do with Captain Jack Sparrow.

Tom Cruise.

Why Is Tom Cruise Connected to Pirates 6?

No, Tom Cruise is not joining the cast of Pirates of the Caribbean 6. There’s no report suggesting Disney wants him on board, and frankly, that would be one of the strangest casting moves imaginable.

Instead, Cruise is connected to the project for one simple reason: producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

Bruckheimer has been the powerhouse behind the Pirates franchise since the beginning. He’s also responsible for another massive blockbuster property—Top Gun.

And according to Bruckheimer himself, Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is currently competing with Top Gun 3 in terms of development priority.

In his words, it’s “a horse race” between the two sequels, and right now, Top Gun 3 is slightly ahead.

That matters because if Cruise’s sequel takes off first, Pirates 6 is forced to wait.

The Cruise Effect: Hollywood’s Most Powerful Schedule

Tom Cruise doesn’t just star in movies. He controls them.

Cruise is known for being extremely hands-on, especially when it comes to major action franchises. His projects are built around his involvement, his timeline, and his commitment to making each movie bigger than the last.

That means when a Tom Cruise sequel moves into active development, everything around it shifts. Studios adjust release schedules. Production teams lock in timeframes. Other projects get delayed.

So even though Disney technically owns Pirates, the reality is that Bruckheimer can’t fully juggle both projects at once.

If Cruise’s Top Gun 3 moves forward first, Disney’s pirate ship stays stuck in port.

Disney’s Pirates Drama Isn’t Going Away

Of course, Cruise’s involvement isn’t the only reason this sequel has become controversial.

Disney still has to deal with the franchise’s biggest unresolved issue: what comes next.

There was once major buzz that Margot Robbie could lead a new version of the franchise, but that plan reportedly fell apart, only to come back together again. Other rumors suggest Disney may introduce a new main character, possibly connected to Captain Jack Sparrow.

At the same time, many fans still believe the franchise doesn’t work without Johnny Depp.

And that debate isn’t fading. If anything, it’s getting louder the longer Disney refuses to make a clear decision.

What This Delay Means for the Release Date

If Top Gun 3 goes into production soon, it could easily dominate Bruckheimer’s attention for the next couple of years. That would likely push any major progress on Pirates 6 into 2028 at the earliest.

From there, a realistic release window could land around 2029 or even 2030.

That would mean Disney is trying to revive one of its biggest blockbuster franchises after more than a decade away from theaters.

And while nostalgia can be powerful, Disney may be gambling on audiences still being invested after such a long gap.

Tom Cruise Didn’t Ask for This… But He’s Still a Factor

What makes this situation so fascinating is that Tom Cruise isn’t trying to derail Disney. He isn’t making demands about Pirates. He isn’t negotiating with the studio.

But his sequel project may still be the reason Disney’s next Pirates movie keeps drifting further into the future.

For fans hoping Pirates of the Caribbean 6 would finally be the big comeback moment Disney needs, this is a frustrating update.

Because right now, the biggest factor controlling the fate of Pirates 6 isn’t Disney.

It’s the Hollywood icon currently flying ahead with Top Gun 3.