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After a long defamation trial, the outcome of which favoured Johnny Depp more than Amber Heard, it was reported that the Pirates of the Caribbean actor would be returning to the franchise but his team was quick to shut the rumours down.

On June 27, a report surfaced claiming the actor was working on a $301 million deal to continue the legacy of Captain Jack Sparrow. "Disney is very interested in patching up their relationship with Johnny Depp," a source told PopTopic almost four years after the actor parted ways with Disney. "They are very hopeful that Johnny will forgive them and return as his iconic character."

Shortly after, a representative for the actor put a halt to the excitement building up in Depp fans and told NBC News, "This is made up."

Depp, who was the face of all five movies, the latest one being the 2017 film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales was cut off from the franchise during his defamation trial against Heard. Back in May, Pirates producer Jerry Bruckheimer was asked if Depp would be back for future projects. "Not at this point," he told The Sunday Times. "The future is yet to be decided."

During the court sessions, the Aquaman actor's attorney Ben Rottenborn asked the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them actor, "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."

The six-week long trial examining Depp's claims that his ex-wife defamed him finally came to a close this month. After weeks of court hearings and a full day of deliberations, a jury ruled in favour of Depp. The widely-viewed trial featured explicit and graphic evidence and testimony detailing the former Hollywood couple's soured relationship.

The Virginia jury also ruled in favour of Heard in some aspects of her counter-suit against Depp. The jury awarded Depp $15 million in damages from Heard. The panel awarded Heard $2 million in damages.

The former Pirates actor's future plans have an album in store with English rocker Jeff Beck on July 15. The 13-track record titled 18 is largely comprised of covers, a statement from Depp and Beck said, with music from artists including the Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye and the Velvet Underground.