Cheekbones are back. Just like a languorously elegant and much shorter haircut.
And while Johnny Depp retains his signature raw, tattooed charm, the excessively scruffy – perhaps even dirty – look of recent months seems to be long gone.
Friends say Depp, 60, had a sort of “gap year” – actually more like two years – after his deadly 2022 trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard.
The Virginia court ruled in Depp’s favor that Heard defamed him on three counts with her allegations of domestic violence.
Sources say Depp felt euphoric over the verdict and, although Heard only won one of her counterclaims, the lengthy trial clearly took its toll.
Depp largely faded from the limelight, grew his hair long and gained weight, while playing a lot of music privately (he is an accomplished guitarist) and dabbling in painting.
He traveled widely, notably to Saudi Arabia, where he formed surprising, even controversial, friendships with the kingdom’s royal family, who have since financially supported some of his film projects.
He also spent months at a time on his private Caribbean island, Little Parrot Cay, worth $5 million, in the company of select pals.
A double tragedy then occurs with the sudden and unexpected death of two close friends.
He was at the bedside of rock legend Jeff Beck when he died at the age of 78 in January last year. Sources described the pair as “extremely close” and said Depp had been “devastated” by Beck’s death.
But there was little time for mourning as, ten months later, Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan died after a long period of illness. Depp – who spoke warmly of his “love” for MacGowan – helped carry the singer’s coffin at his funeral.
The fact that Beck and MacGowan both suffered from very public battles with drug addiction was not lost on Depp, who – his friends say – subsequently re-evaluated his own life.
Certainly, Depp’s two-year marriage to Heard had been incredibly self-destructive, characterized by excessive alcohol and “powder” consumption.
Clearly, said a friend, it was time “for a change.”
Hence her “new look” last week, at the small London premiere of her new French film, “Jeanne Du Barry,” showcasing her fitter, sleeker look.
I’m told he turned to Odile Gilbert – one of Paris’ most famous hairdressers – to transform his wild hair.
He also lost a lot of weight through a slow process of “being more mindful, eating well and prioritizing his well-being,” according to sources.
The timing of this makeover is no coincidence. Depp is set to appear in an upcoming Dior campaign, reprising his role as celebrity spokesperson and face of their hit fragrance, Sauvage.
Depp hopes his transformation will be fully “complete” by the fall, with plans for major new commercial and film ventures.
Indeed, friends claim that fans might soon be able to get their hands on Depp-branded rum.
A line of alcohol would certainly play into the popularity of his best-known on-screen character, Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
It could also be very lucrative – something Depp will no doubt have learned following the success of other famous alcohol brands.
As for Captain Jack Sparrow, the question on everyone’s lips is whether Depp will reprise the fan-favorite role.
Until recently, Depp had all but given up on acting, instead committing to behind-the-camera roles — such as in his upcoming film “Modi” (a biopic about Modigliani, directed by Depp and starring Al Pacino).
However, insiders now say what was once a ‘probably not’ has turned into a ‘yes’ – Depp will we will return to our screens.
As for the Jack Sparrow revival? Maybe it’s a business.
Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer – who is working with Disney on highly touted plans for a reboot of the franchise – has said he would love for Depp to return, even in a cameo role. But would Depp himself agree?
There was a time when it was a resounding “no”: he actually declared in court that he would not return to this role, even for $300 million.
Depp felt terribly hurt after production abruptly abandoned him and severed all ties during his messy court battles with Heard.
But time heals, and Depp now feels grateful to the fans who stuck by him. He certainly wouldn’t want to disrespect them by completely ruling out a return.
A friend says: “Johnny has always been so touched by how many people love and resonate with the character, so anything is possible.” This all sounds a lot more like a yes than a no.
Meanwhile, Depp is now based primarily in London, with also time in the south of France, where he owns a sprawling 37-acre estate.
In March last year, he visited an antiques store in Lincolnshire (UK) – arriving by helicopter – and bought desks, guitars and other items to furnish a “new house in London.
A friend based in Los Angeles tells me that this new house was secretly purchased from another high-profile celebrity some time ago.
The value is unknown, but I have heard that the property is in Hampstead – a popular area in the north of the city, particularly popular with celebrities. Depp’s neighbors include director Tim Burton, a longtime friend.
There is no talk of rekindling his romance with glamorous lawyer Joelle Rich – who represented Depp at his trial in London in 2020 and is also based in north London.
The couple experienced a short-lived “entanglement” during their trial in Virginia (in which Rich had no legal role). But his friends now say Depp is “too busy” to consider a serious romantic relationship and that the affair with Rich simply broke down a few weeks after the trial.
It seems he was happy to move on. And as he focuses his efforts on his triumphant return to the film industry, the upcoming Dior fall campaign and perhaps even his plans for an alcohol brand, fans can rest assured that there will be plenty more Depp to come.