Johnny Depp reportedly in negotiations to make comeback in Pirates of the Caribbean

Johnny Depp is reportedly in negotiations to make his comeback in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

It comes after he was dropped from the blockbuster series in 2018, after his ex-wife Amber Heard, 36, published her Washington Post op-ed that year that didn't name Johnny but clearly branded him a domestic abuser.

His legal team claimed it cost the 59-year-old a US$22 million (S$30.5 million) payday.

Johnny was the major lead in five Pirates movies over the past 15 years and made what was thought to be his final appearance in 2017's Dead Men Tell No Tales.

A source told Poptopic he has been in talks with Disney about a "$301 million deal" after he won his six-week defamation trial against Amber.

The insider claimed Disney are interested in mending their relationship with the Edward Scissorhands actor and have apparently contacted him with an offer.

They added: "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.

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"The deal is reportedly for Johnny Depp to return as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 and a spin-off Disney+ series about the early life of the Captain of The Black Pearl.

"What I can tell you is that the studio has already penned up a draft for a film about Jack Sparrow so they are very hopeful that Johnny will forgive them and return as his iconic character."

The source said Disney is also adding a "sizeable donation" to a charity of Johnny's choice as a sweetener.

Johnny previously declared he would not work with Disney again after he was ditched from the sixth Pirates movie, adding he felt he was "guilty until proven innocent" with the company's bosses.