Despite controversies and a career slowdown, Depp is set to star alongside Cruz in Day Drinker as rumors swirl about a Pirates return.
Johnny Depp’s 2022 defamation trial against Amber Heard ended in victory for the actor, but the fallout from their messy legal battle and allegations of abuse left a lasting impact on his career and reputation.
Since the conclusion of the high-profile case, Depp has only appeared in one movie: the 2024 French film Jeanne du Barry. But according to sources, he’s quietly working on a major comeback.
An insider told In Touch that Depp is teaming up with longtime friend and collaborator Penélope Cruz for the upcoming thriller Day Drinker. The two have a strong working history, and Depp hopes this marks the start of a new chapter.
“This is a long time coming for Johnny, he was quite literally in exile,” the source said. “But his win at trial over Amber opened the door for him to slowly rebuild his reputation and start working again. At one point, people predicted he’d never work in Hollywood again, so this is very vindicating for him.”
The insider added that Depp is in a much better headspace these days, taking better care of himself and focusing on making a full comeback.
“He’s been in a much better headspace and as a result has been taking much better care of himself. He wants to come back his absolute best and have a full Phoenix rising arc,” the source shared.
Though he’s starting with smaller productions, Depp reportedly has bigger projects in his sights — including a potential return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. While rumors of a sixth film without Depp have circulated for months, a report from the UK’s Express claims he’s now in “advanced talks” to reprise his iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow.
A senior executive reportedly told the paper, “It’s very close to being a done deal,” though Disney has yet to confirm the news. The stakes are high: a new Pirates film could rake in billions at the global box office, but some worry that Depp’s controversies might overshadow the project.
For now, Depp seems focused on taking one step at a time — and with Cruz by his side, he might just be ready to sail back into Hollywood’s good graces.
