Hollywood star Johnny Depp will star in a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film as camp pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, it has been confirmed.

The actor - who won fans worldwide with his performance as the drunk, bearded pirate in the Disney film franchise - will reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow, Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook confirmed.

However, Johnny is unlikely to be joined by his former co-star Keira Knightley - who played Elizabeth Swann in the first three films.

When recently asked if she would ever consider doing another Pirates of the Caribbean film, Keira said: "I think it was wonderful and an amazing opportunity and those films were just extraordinary and I was extremely lucky to be a part of them.

"But no. I think my pirating days may be over."

Speaking at a Disney press conference at Los Angeles' Kodak Theater, Cook also revealed Johnny will star as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's big screen adaptation of Lewis Carroll's children's novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and in an adaptation of US TV show The Lone Ranger.

Johnny - who took to the stage dressed as Jack Sparrow wearing a Lone Ranger mask - will play the masked hero's Native American sidekick Tonto in the movie, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

(China Daily/Agencies September 26, 2008)