After his victory in a defamation case against Heard in 2022, Depp was met with a rapturous reception at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, where he premiered his French romantic drama Jeanne du Barry. 

Now, as his return to Hollywood continues, Depp was spotted emerging from Cipriani in Mayfair after midnight, following a four-hour dinner with friends.

Johnny Depp appeared to be in bright spirits when he surfaced at the end of a night out in London – in a rare public sighting amid his comeback

The Edward Scissorhands star exhibited his signature quirky style, teaming a pinstriped suit with a 1970s style top and a shell-beaded necklace.

Garnishing the look with a top hat and shades – despite the fact it was after dark – he had a book in hand and what appeared to be a cigarillo dangling from his mouth.

His latest public sighting comes after Terry Rossio, a longtime writer and producer on the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise, stunningly remarked that Depp would be welcome back for a future instalment of the film series.

Depp was jettisoned from his lead role as Jack Sparrow amid the blizzard of controversy that resulted from Heard’s abuse allegations.

Now, however, Rossio has exclusively told DailyMail.com he ‘wouldn’t even hesitate’ to bring the ‘beloved’ Depp back into the fold for another Pirates movie.

‘Johnny Depp isn’t the issue. The issue is: is there a story worthy? Is the script good? Can it be directed well? Can the finances of it be worked out? Those are the issues. The issue has nothing to do with Johnny,’ said Rossio, 63.

A few weeks earlier an insider revealed Depp was ‘in really good spirits’ and ‘bears no animosity toward anybody’ as his comeback continues.

‘He’s focused on moving forward. He’s keeping busy. There’s a lot of good distractions, so there’s not that much time to be reminiscing on that darker period.’

Now, as his return to Hollywood continues, Depp was spotted emerging from Cipriani in Mayfair after midnight, following a four-hour dinner with friends

Depp, 60, spent years as a pariah in Hollywood amid his highly publicized legal battles with his ex-wife Amber Heard, 38, whom he is pictured with in 2014

The insider added: ‘There’s been a release of the old and embarking on this new chapter. He’s feeling better about where he is in life.’

He was ‘very excited’ for the US release of Jeanne du Barry, which served as ‘a good challenge’ for him as he ‘did the entire film in French,’ the source told People.

Depp was purportedly ‘taking advantage of being in this better headspace. There’s a lot of good energy, and he surrounds himself with a good group of people.’

Jeanne du Barry starred Depp as Louis XV in the story of the French king’s affair with his favorite mistress, the title character, played by the film’s director Maïwenn.

Although Depp earned a seven-minute standing ovation for the movie at Cannes, reducing him to tears, Jeanne Du Barry ultimately flopped at the box office.

Depp has lately been staying in London while editing his directorial feature Modi, a biopic of the Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani.

Al Pacino is one of the co-producers of the movie, which stars Italian actor Riccardo Scamarcio at the head of a cast that includes Miranda actress Sally Phillips.

Although Depp does not appear in Modi and is currently devoting his energies to directing, sources assured TMZ that he is not retiring from acting.

Terry Rossio, a longtime writer and producer on the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise, has said Depp would be welcome back for a future instalment; pictured in the latest film in 2017

Depp was met with a rapturous reception at last year’s Cannes Film Festival , where he premiered his French romantic drama Jeanne du Barry

Depp has lately been staying in London while editing his directorial feature Modi, a biopic of the Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani; pictured in the film

When he feels the moment is opportune, he is said to be open to the prospect of starring in a Hollywood movie again.

Heard had to pay him $1 million after losing the defamation case that he brought against her when she accused him of physical abuse.

Their lurid 2022 trial unfolded in the headlines, with Depp accusing Heard of having left feces in his bed as a bizarre prank on her 30th birthday.

After the trial ended, Heard sold her home in Yucca Valley, California for a reported $1.1 million and moved to Madrid with her daughter Oonagh, three.

Heard turned 38 in Spain in April, cheerfully declaring on Instagram that she was indulging in a ‘Champagne kind of birthday.’

Meanwhile, sources recently informed DailyMail.com that Depp has undergone a radical transformation, losing weight and shrugging off his previous grungy look as he embraces ‘a cleaner lifestyle than at times in the past.’