WHERE'S Johnny?

That's the question on everyone's lips as rumours of the Hollywood star's visit to the Whitsundays spread.

Johnny Depp has been seen on Hamilton Island and is believed to have been in the Whitsundays for the past two weekends.

Those in the know say he took a boat to Whitehaven Beach and liked the place so much he brought his mum and dad to stay.

Whether Captain Jack Sparrow is doing some research ahead of potential filming or simply soaking up the Whitsunday sun is not yet known.

The region has been on "pirate alert" since the announcement was made last year that the fifth movie in Walt Disney Studio's Pirates of the Caribbean series would be shot in Queensland.

At the time, Queensland Arts Minister Ian Walker said the movie, starring Depp, would be filmed in studios on the Gold Coast, with locations at Port Douglas and "north of Mackay".

In 2013 a Temporary Local Planning Instrument covering filming at Airlie's Funnel Bay was negotiated with Disney for a re-make of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, starring Brad Pitt.

While this was never made, the site hosted Pitt's equally famous wife. Angelina Jolie shot scenes for her directorial debut Unbroken there and at Earlando last year.

Also last year, Whitsundays Marketing and Development Limited executive director Jeff Aquilina confirmed Walt Disney location scouts were on the lookout in the Whitsundays.

While he kept tight-lipped due to "some confidentiality arrangements in place", he did say Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and Tongue Bay all "screamed Pirates of the Caribbean".

The Whitsundays could well be seeing a lot more of Johnny Depp yet.