Warner Bros has cut loose Johnny Depp from a the third installment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise that is scheduled for 2022. The decision came after the actor lost his libel suit against publishers of the UK newspapers, The Sun, which referred to him as a “wife beater”.
In an Instagram post on Friday, Depp revealed he had been asked to resign from his role as Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise and that he “respected and agreed to” the directive.
“I wish to let you know that I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request,” Depp wrote in a typed letter, shared on Instagram.
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The allegations, which Depp has repeatedly denied, are in connection to his ex Amber Heard, whom he wed in 2015 in a private ceremony. A year later, however, Heard filed for divorce, accusing Depp of domestic abuse.
He Wrote:
The surreal judgement of the court in the UK will not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal. My resolve remains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false. My life and career will not be defined by this moment in time,
Johnny Depp as Grindelwald in Fantatsic Beasts
The libel case rocked Warner Bros and forced executives to consider whether to stick with Depp, reduce his screen time in the third instalment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise, or fire him.
The entertainment giant said the movie was still in production but would be delayed until the summer of 2022. The role of Gellert Grindelwald – which Depp has portrayed twice – will be recast, it added.
