Johnny Depp has finally addressed the circumstances around his departure from the Fantastic Beasts series, which followed accusations of domestic abuse by his ex-wife Amber Heard. The actor, who played Grindelwald, opened up about being asked to resign by Warner Bros. in 2020.
Depp appeared in the first two films released in 2018 but was replaced by Mads Mikkelsen for the third movie in 2023. Although the studio initially supported Depp, the ongoing legal issues led to his removal.
In a revealing interview with The Telegraph, Depp said he felt “cancelled” and “dumped” by the industry. He also said Warner Bros. wanted him to retire from the role, a suggestion he strongly rejected.
Depp’s legal history includes a lost UK libel case against The Sun and a successful US defamation suit against The Washington Post. He explained that fighting the claims was vital to his identity and career.
Now, Depp is moving forward, directing the upcoming film Modìgliani: Three Days on the Wing of Madness, scheduled for release on July 11.
