Johnny Depp close to signing for fifth 'Pirates' film

Captain Jack Sparrow may sail again.

The Wrap is reporting "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Johnny Depp is close to a deal to star in a fifth film in the franchise which to date has brought home just shy of $3.7 billion in booty from the worldwide box office and includes two of the eight films to cross the $1 billion mark.

"Pirates" has earned $3.7 billion to date.

According to the report, producer Jerry Bruckheimer is hard at work on a script for the fifth film, a rough draft of which has been completed, and any deal will be contingent on receiving Depp's approval.

The fourth installment, "On Stranger Tides," is still pillaging the box office and is the top grossing film of 2011 so far.

Last month it was reported that "On Stranger Tides" director Rob Marshall had been offered the chance to helm the fifth installment but had not yet signed, leading Disney to begin shopping for a new director. Gore Verbinski directed the first three "Pirates of the Carribbean" films.

According to the report, citing "reliable sources," Disney's "dream" choice would be Tim Burton ("Alice in Wonderland"), but they are also looking at Shawn Levy ("Night at the Museum"), Sam Raimi ("Spider-Man"), Chris Weitz ("The Golden Compass"), and Alfonso Cuaron ("Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban").