didn't MB say something about Cobert not having direct involvement?
Yes, Cobert himself said at the '10 Fest that he's happily retired and wouldn't be working on the Depp/DS film. But if Depp/Burton are trying to lure him out of retirement, well, who knows what may happen?
This report comes from the English tabloid The Sun, so believe of it what you will, but according to them Depp is on a green tea diet to lose weight to play Barn: