Johnny Depp to return to Disney in ‘$300 million deal’ – or is he?

Published 14:37 27 Jun 2022 BST

Kieran Galpin

Johnny Depp to return to Disney in ‘$300 million deal’ – or is he?

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Disney is reportedly planning a series about Jack Sparrow's early adventures

Johnny Depp is reportedly set to rejoin the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise after leaving in 2018, reports suggest. According to an "industry insider" who spoke to Pop Topic earlier this month, Disney is in the process of putting together a deal the 59-year-old actor can't refuse. While the article was first posted on June 7, it began circulating again Monday, with many fans hopeful that Depp would return once again as eccentric pirate Captain Jack Sparrow. His last appearance was in 2017's Salazar's Revenge. "Disney are very interested in patching up their relationship with Johnny Depp. They reached out to the actor prior to his defamation trial against Amber Heard and asked whether he would be interested in returning for another pirate film or two," the source told the outlet." They continued to say that a "gift basket with a very heartfelt letter" had been sent to Depp, with Disney executives hoping "Johnny Will forgive them." He's also pegged for a Disney Plus series about the early life of his iconic character, according to the source. Depp could be paid an impressive $301m for the film, but that figure might sound familiar to those of you who followed his lawyer against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, where he was awarded $10m in damages. In the early days of the trial, Benjamin Rottenborn, one of Heard's lawyers, put it to the actor that he would not reprise the famous role: "The fact is, Mr Depp, if Disney came to you with $300 million and a million alpacas, nothing on this earth would get you to go back and work with Disney on a Pirates of the Caribbean film? Correct?" Depp replied: "That is true, Mr Rottenborn." If Depp was completely against returning for $300m, then why would he go back on that very public statement for just $1m more? Although Depp's Disney future is uncertain, his next film is set to begin shooting this summer. The Dark Shadows actor will be portraying French King Louis XV in a currently unnamed film produced by French visionary Maïwenn. Depp has not made any further comment about returning to Disney.