After 16 years and five movies, Disney is looking for a new take on “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and the company has hired Ted Elliott and “Chernobyl” creator Craig Mazin to develop a story, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
“Deadpool” writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick were previously hired in 2018 to come up with a new take. The duo left the project in 2019. Elliott and Mazin are in the early stages of development, and have been tasked to find a direction and story for the franchise. Veteran producer Jerry Bruckheimer is expected to return as producer.
The “Pirates of the Caribbean” series told the story of the adventures of Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp. It is unknown if Depp will return for the sixth installment of the franchise.
The last “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” opened on Memorial day back in 2017 to mixed reviews, eventually earning $794.8 million worldwide on a budget of estimated to between $230 and $320 million.
Elliot previously wrote the 2003 original “The Curse of the Black Pearl” and the following three sequels (“Dead Man’s Chest,” “At World’s End,” “On Stranger Tides”) with then writing partner Terry Rossio.
Mazin is best known for the “Scary Movie” and “The Hangover” movies and creating the Emmy winning HBO series “Chernobyl.”
The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news.