Why did Johnny Depp leave fantastic Beasts? His Reasons Revealed
Johnny Depp’s withdrawal from Fantastic Beasts 3 is one of the worst losses in his career in recent years.
Depp’s wicked Gellert Grindelwald was first featured in the concluding scenes of 2016’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, but he was given a larger role in 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
The Fantastic Beasts films serve as a precursor to the Harry Potter film series, which is one of the most successful in cinematic history.
This comes as a result of Depp’s loss in a legal battle with the British publication The Sun.
After a report in 2018 called Depp a “wife-beater” and demanded that he be removed from the “Fantastic Beasts” movie owing to his alleged abuse of ex-wife Amber Heard, Depp sued the tabloid for libel.
Depp was married to actress and activist Amber Heard for just over two years. Heard filed a temporary injunction against Depp towards the end of their relationship, accusing him of assaulting her physically, psychologically, and verbally, often while under the influence of narcotics and alcohol. In 2017, the couple reached an out-of-court settlement on their divorce.
Fantastic Beasts cover
The libel lawsuit against “The Sun” took place this summer, and numerous gory facts from Heard and Depp’s marriage were revealed.
Both parties accused the other of abuse while disputing the charges in major part.
The Story in detail
The actor launched a defamation case against News Group Newspapers in April 2018, claiming that the newspaper The Sun had published an article describing him as a “wife abuser,” which he said was defamatory.
After some time, the authorities ruled in favor of the news organization, and Depp’s reputation suffered a significant blow.
Then, in November 2020, at Warner Bros.’ request, Johnny Depp stepped down from his role in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.
A judge eventually concluded on Nov. 2 that Heard “was the victim of continuous and multiple assaults by Mr. Depp,” and that Depp “placed her in fear of her life.”
Depp is adamant in his denial of any wrongdoing. “The strange judgment of the court in the United Kingdom will not change my struggle to reveal the truth, and I confirm that I intend to appeal,” he said on November 6 in a statement on social media.
“My commitment is unwavering, and I want to show that the accusations leveled against me are untrue.” This particular point in time will not define my life or career.”
In an email to the New York Times, Harriet Wistrich, head of the Center for Women’s Justice, commented on the trial’s outcome. “We hope that the outcome of this case serves as a message to affluent males who seek to silence women who speak out about abuse through the courts,” she said.
Did Warner Bros remove Johnny dep From Fantastic Beasts?
The absence of Johnny Depp in the first trailer of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is clear to fans of the story who do not believe Warner Bros.’ move to withdraw him from the movie even though he was already filming.
Johnny Depp
Warner Bros. “wanted to let the due process run its course before deciding on the beleaguered star’s future in the franchise,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. The dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, who Depp played in the first “Fantastic Beasts” film and its 2018 sequel, will be recast for the final three sequels.
Depp’s casting as Grindelwald was previously defended by the studio and Rowling, who created both Fantastic Beasts screenplays. “Conscience isn’t governable by committee,” Rowling said on her website in December 2017.
We all have to do what we believe is right, both inside and outside the fictitious world.” The case between Depp and Heard had been “jointly addressed by both parties, in a statement in which they said ‘there was never any purpose of physical or emotional injury,'” according to Warner Bros.
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Who replaced Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts and why?
As a result, Mads Mikkelsen was cast in his stead, however, Depp continued to get his full compensation because he had previously filmed a sequence, and his agreement provided that he would be paid whether or not the film was finished.
The American actor had already filmed a sequence for the film, but his name was removed from the cast due to his scandals.