Johnny Depp breaks silence on being fired from Fantastic Beasts

India Today

08-07-2025

Actor Johnny Depp opened up about his exit from the 'Fantastic Beasts' film series, reflecting on the circumstances surrounding his departure. Originally cast as Gellert Grindelwald, Depp's tenure in the 'Harry Potter' spin-off ended in November 2020 when Warner Bros requested his resignation amid ongoing legal battles and public scrutiny following the Amber Heard case. This decision paved the way for actor Mads Mikkelsen to assume the role.advertisementIn a recent interview with The Telegraph, Depp discussed his feelings about the sudden end to his role. "Listen, they've said all kinds of things out there in the world about me, and it doesn't bother me. I'm not running for office," he remarked. Depp elaborated on the moment he was asked to resign, stating, "It literally stopped in a millisecond, like, while I was doing the movie. They said we'd like you to resign. But what was really in my head was they wanted me to retire."The request came just days after he lost a libel case in the UK against The Sun newspaper, which had referred to him as a 'wife beater' in relation to abuse allegations made by Amber Heard. The judge ruled that the publication's claims were 'substantially true.' Although Depp continued to deny all allegations, the fallout was swift: he was removed from the franchise after reportedly filming only one scene. Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen was later brought in to replace him.Depp's involvement in the series began with the 2016 film 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,' where he was revealed as Grindelwald in a surprising twist. He reprised his role in the 2018 sequel 'The Crimes of Grindelwald' and was initially set to return for 'The Secrets of Dumbledore.'
Despite the upheaval, Depp's response to the resignation request was defiant. "F*** you. There's far too many of me to kill. If you think you can hurt me more than I've already been hurt you're gravely mistaken," he asserted.Following Depp's departure, Warner Bros opted to reboot the franchise for the small screen, with plans to adapt JK Rowling's 'Harry Potter' books for HBO. This strategic shift comes after 'The Secrets of Dumbledore' received largely negative reviews and underperformed at the box office.'The Fantastic Beasts' trilogy, which includes Depp's previous performances, remains available on streaming platforms..- EndsMust Watch