Johnny Depp is reportedly open to working with Disney again

Johnny Depp may be sending off signal flares that he's ready and willing to work with Disney again. “Anything is possible,” an insider close to Depp told PEOPLE of the Disney reunion. "If it's the right project, he'll do it."

The sentiment coming from Depp's camp comes just a month after Disney Studio Motion Picture Production president Sean Bailey sent his own signal flares that the studio may be ready to move forward with the next installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which Depp helmed as his now-iconic pirate character. Captain Jack Sparrow: "We think we have a really good, exciting story that honors the films that have come before, but also has something new," Bailey told the NYT.

Of course, the Disney executive was cautious about Depp's involvement, saying they were "non-committal at this point."

In the middle sits Pirates producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who just says, "You'd have to ask [Disney]. I can't answer that question. I really don't know," Bruckheimer shared about bringing Depp back. "I'd love to have him in a movie. He's a friend, a great actor, and it's unfortunate that personal lives creep into everything we do."

Why did Johnny Depp break up with Disney?

Disney parted ways with Jonny Depp in late 2010 after the actor became embroiled in a controversial, public divorce with his ex-wife Amber Heard. In 2018, Britain's Sun newspaper published an "anonymous" letter (from Heard) accusing the unnamed megastar (Depp) of abuse. Depp sued The Sun for defamation, claiming the article had affected his reputation and career.

However, when Depp lost that lawsuit and Heard was found to have suffered enough of what amounted to abuse for the print claim to stand, the decision all but killed Depp's legal momentum and reputation at the height of Hollywood's "Me Too" movement. . In 2022, Depp and Heard had a public court in Virginia; when that decision ended largely in Depp's favor—followed quickly by a final settlement by Heard—it seemed to be all Depp needed to reclaim his place among Hollywood's top actors.

So far, communication between Depp and Disney has felt like both sides trying to feel each other out without losing face in the public eye. It will be interesting to see if the private discussions soon lead to a formal announcement that Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is on the move.