Johnny Depp signs to 'Pirates 5' for $116m

Johnny Depp has signed on to play Captain Jack Sparrow again in a fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film, The Sun reports.

The 49-year-old actor couldn't possibly jump ship, given the success of the four previous Pirates blockbusters, which took a combined $1.6 billion worldwide.

Plus the small detail of his rumoured new contract: an enviable $116 million.

"Johnny is being very careful he does not sign on for too many films," an insider told The Sun.

"He doesn't want to ruin his career with overexposure like John Travolta or Nic Cage did.

"This huge deal for Pirates means he will be able to pick his other roles very carefully on the strength of their script rather than their salary."

Doesn't Johnny do that already? The Rum Diary and Dark Shadows, anyone?

In October 2011, Johnny admitted he'd do another Pirates film if it came up.

"Basically, if they're going to pay me the stupid money right now, I'm going to take it," Johnny told Vanity Fair.

"I have to. I mean, it's not for me. Do you know what I mean? At this point, it's for my kids.

"It's ridiculous, yeah, yeah. But ultimately is it for me? No. No. It's for the kids."

Johnny will have to dip into his estimated $450 million fortune to support his kids, Lily-Rose and John "Jack" Christopher, and their mother, Johnny's recent ex-partner of 14 years, Vanessa Paradis.

Last year, producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed a script for the fifth film was in the works.

In the mean time, Johnny has been filming Disney's remake of The Lone Ranger, due for release in July 2013.

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