Johnny Depp return to Pirates of the Caribbean welcomed by producer – after actor was axed from lead role over Amber Heard abuse allegations

Johnny Depp has been ‘un-canceled’ – at least as far as a Pirates of the Caribbean reboot is concerned.

Screenwriter and producer of the swashbuckling franchise Terry Rossio tells DailyMail.com that now that Depp has cleaned up his act he would be welcomed back with open arms.

In an exclusive interview, Rossio said he ‘wouldn’t even hesitate’ to have Depp back on set, despite the allegations of abuse and alcoholism against the actor.

Rossio, 63, said casting the controversial Hollywood star is ‘not the problem’ for a sequel – it is finding the right script, co-stars and finances to revive the Disney-owned franchise, which has grossed over $4.5 billion worldwide.

Speaking exclusively on camera at the premiere of his new film Protocol 7, Rossio said of Depp: ‘Johnny is beloved. I wouldn’t even hesitate on Johnny Depp.’

‘Johnny Depp isn’t the issue. The issue is: is there a story worthy? Is the script good? Can it be directed well? Can the finances of it be worked out? Those are the issues. The issue has nothing to do with Johnny.’

Rossio, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Shrek, added that Disney should not just look at Depp returning, but attempt to bring back the main cast from the original Oscar-nominated debut Pirates movie Dead Man’s Chest.

Asked how far Disney bosses have gotten in their revival plans, Rossio pleaded ignorance, saying: ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t have any inside information. I’m sorry, I can’t say.’

But he then noted that other factors are likely to be holding up the reboot, and that sometimes it can take over a decade even for desired movies to be made.

‘The Indiana Jones movie, for example, was like this,’ he said. ‘Everybody wanted it, but it took what, 15, 16 years for it to come about.

‘There are a lot of forces that come into play in terms of… schedule, availability, finances, creative control, the disposition of the studio, the planets have to align on any movie. It’s a miracle that anything ever gets done.’

Last year franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer spoke of his hope to have Depp back as Sparrow, but never confirmed Disney were on board.

Rossio’s comments will delight fans given many had petitioned for him to come back after winning his libel trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.

The actor famously told the trial under questioning from his own lawyer, that Disney dropped him from the sixth film after Heard accused him of being a wife beater.

But a Virginia jury found that Depp proved elements of defamation for Heard’s statements in her 2018 Washing Post op-ed. They decided Heard’s statements were false, and that she defamed Depp with actual malice.

The Jack Sparrow actor enjoyed a five minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival for his 2023 film, Jeanne du Barry, in which he stars as the former King of France Louis XV.

Rossio believes that with Depp’s career back on the rise Disney should reunite with Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley in this comeback.

‘Clearly the best pirate film in my mind, my controversial opinion, would be to bring back everybody. I would bring back Johnny. I would bring back Gore Verbinski,’ the screenwriter said.

‘I would bring back Jeffrey Rush. I would bring back Orlando (Bloom), (Kevin) McNeely and Keira (Knightley),’ he said. ‘That’s the best pirate film. Why not? We had a blast the first time. Let’s do it again. That’s what I would do if it were me, why not? And that’s what the fans want.’

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl saw Depp nominated for an Academy Award Best Actor gong and earned over $650 million at the box office.

Rossio feels that Warner Brothers will have a hit should they move forward with the proposed idea of a Pirates flick starring Oscar nominee Margot Robbie.

‘There’s a talent level. There’s a reason they call them stars. She is a star because she has ascended up into the heavens in terms of Hollywood royalty,’ he said.

‘So whatever she does, it’s going to be amazing because that level of talent is going to always come out. So to get her in a pirate movie, it would absolutely be great. There’s no question of it.’

Rossio also wants to see spin-offs in the Pirates universe using the original movie’s female characters – similar to what Disney did with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

‘Again, it’s just my opinion, but I wouldn’t call it a female version of Pirates. I would call it an expansion and an exploration of the Pirate’s universe. You can’t go up and try to replace what’s been done,’ he said.

‘That would be absolutely great. There could be a Hector Barbosa, Jeffrey Rush movie,’ he added, referencing the first film’s antagonist cursed pirate captain.

‘I don’t know why you wouldn’t. You have to be fiscally responsible. Maybe the budgets are a little bit smaller, but why not do an expansion of the universe back to where the budget was for the first one, and I’m sure it would be successful. ‘

Rossio wrote the script for Protocol 7 for disgraced UK anti-vaxxer doctor Andrew Wakefield, who has become a filmmaker after his medical license was revoked.

The film tells the story of Alexis, a small-town lawyer, who is confronted with the reality of corporate fraud at the highest level.

The film has prompted outrage over unproven claims that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine causes serious long-term health issues.

Rossio noted of working with Wakefield: ‘Well, I just look at it as what does the science say? What does the research say, what is the clarity that comes from examining the topic? And if you’re on point to the reality of what’s going on, then how can you go wrong?’