Johnny Depp has reportedly signed a massive $33.6 million pay deal to star in the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise.

The movie hunk has proved popular in his role as eccentric high seas character Captain Jack Sparrow - the first three films have garnered more than $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office.

Studio bosses were so keen to get Depp back on board for 2011's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, they offered him a minimum $33.6 million pay deal - with more cash from ticket sales, according to Britain's The Sun newspaper.