Jerry Bruckheimer said a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean is still in active development, with Margot Robbie “still involved” and veteran writer Ted Elliott having worked on the current draft, while a new writer fills in remaining gaps; he added that the film will not proceed until the script meets his standards. He also said National Treasure 3 is “getting closer,” with the intention for Nicolas Cage to return under original director Jon Turteltaub, and noted that the next draft of a Top Gun sequel script from Ehren Kruger is expected next month. The remarks came during a keynote conversation at TheWrap’s TheGrill, where Bruckheimer characterized Pirates as the toughest franchise to crack because its world is so specific.
The comments arrive after a summer of renewed speculation around franchise casting. Last month Bruckheimer said he had spoken with Johnny Depp about a potential return as Jack Sparrow, contingent on the quality of the screenplay, while longtime cast member Keira Knightley recently said she does not expect to come back. Those cross-currents reflect a development process that has seen multiple iterations, including a past pitch centered on Robbie that appeared to stall before being folded into the current path.
On Top Gun, Bruckheimer’s timeline suggests steady movement since the studio signaled interest in a third film after the 2022 hit Maverick; he indicated he is waiting on a new draft while continuing to collaborate with director Joseph Kosinski across projects. He also said his team is exploring ideas for sequels to the racing drama F1 and to Days of Thunder, though those efforts remain at an earlier stage.
Bruckheimer’s update underscores an industry appetite for known IP while highlighting the practical hurdles of reuniting key talent and refreshing long-running brands. He emphasized disciplined development over speed, saying the work will not advance without a script that earns its greenlight, and downplayed external “noise,” including policy chatter that could affect productions shot overseas.
