Johnny Depp has finally returned to the set of the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

The actor left Australia more than a month ago after injuring a hand.

He was expected to be missing for a couple of weeks but only arrived at Brisbane airport this morning.

The film's publicist Michael Singer says Depp was forced to rest up after surgery and then had to wait until his doctor allowed him to travel.

He says scenes which didn't require Depp's character Captain Jack Sparrow, were filmed in his absence.