Beaks here...

While the above headline is technically true, there's a distinct possibility Johnny Depp was joking when he floated the above scenario for the in-development fourth installment in the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN series. I'll let you be the judge.

This is all coming out of Monday's press junket for PUBLIC ENEMIES, where Depp spoke to the online rabble about his [redacted] performance as John Dillinger and, well, damn near everything else that's going on for him professionally. Depp's a busy boy, so let's take this one film at a time.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 4

Though some may feel this is one... or two... or possibly three times too many to the well, Depp is unashamed. "Call me a glutton," he joked.

Here's the deal: Depp is more than willing to return as Captain Jack Sparrow in a fourth PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN provided there's a coherent screenplay. And while he didn't exactly run down the scripts of the previous films, he did suggest that they could use some tightening.

"It got a little confusing here and there," said Depp. "I think, for me, because I love the character so much and... people seem to like it, that if there's an opportunity to try again, it's like going up to bat. You want to get back out there and try and try and try and see what you can do again. I enjoyed playing Captain Jack very much."

So how would Depp like to do PIRATES 4? "At this point, what I'm trying to do is trying to make it like a Beckett play," he said. SPARROW'S LAST TAPE, huh? And how might Disney feel about that? "It could be anything at this point," offered Depp. "Jack Sparrow could be in some kind of geisha clothing. I don't know. We could explore a lot of possibilities."

Why do I think this is the last we'll hear of these particular possibilities?

THE MAN WHO KILLED DON QUIXOTE

Maybe. Maybe not. Here are his comments in full:

"[Gilliam and I] have talked about it. But to be honest, the thing about Terry... I love Terry, and I'd do anything the guy wants to do. But with QUIXOTE... my dance card is pretty nutty for the next couple of years. So I'd hate to put him in a position - or ask to be in a position - where he'd have to wait for me. That would be wrong. But also... I feel like we went there and tried something, and, whatever it was - the elements and all the things that got up underneath us - were there and happened and were documented well in that film LOST IN LA MANCHA. So I don't know if it's right for me to go back there. I don't know if it's right for Terry to, but if he wants to..."

THE LONE RANGER

Depp says they're still in the "super-beginning stages" of developing this Jerry Bruckheimer-produced film. "I feel like I have some good ideas for the character that are interesting, that I don't think have been done all that much before." So it's THE LONE RANGER by way of Ionesco then.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Sounds like Depp had a blast with The Mad Hatter. "Doing something like John Dillinger, a performance where it's so restrained because of the responsibility you have to that guy and his memory. The Mad Hatter was like being fired out of a cannon. The Hatter was great fun. And, again, it's one of those things where you're amazed you weren't fired." Perhaps this was a reference to Depp nearly getting axed during the shooting of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL.

I'll have more from Depp next week out front of PUBLIC ENEMIES July 1st release.