Johnny Depp reveals shocking truth behind ‘Fantastic Beasts' exit
He recalled the moment he was asked to step down during filming. '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'.
Johnny Depp's departure came in November 2020, following his highly publicised legal battle with The Sun newspaper, according to Deadline.
The tabloid had labelled him a 'wife-beater' during his marriage to Amber Heard, allegations he denied. After losing the libel case, Warner Bros. requested Depp's resignation from the franchise.
Depp complied and stated, 'I wish to let you know that Warner Bros. has asked me to resign from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts.'
I have respected and agreed to that request'.
However, Johnny Depp's recent comments to The Telegraph were more defiant. When asked about the recasting, he responded bluntly, 'F**** you. There's far too many of me to kill.
Johnny Depp said, 'If you think you can hurt me more than I've already been hurt, you're gravely mistaken.' His words reveal the deep frustration he feels about how they handled the situation.
Johnny Depp first appeared as Grindelwald at the end of 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them , with Colin Farrell playing the character's disguised form.
He reprised the role in 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald .
After his departure, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen took over the role for the 2022 film Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore . This film became the final movie in the planned series.
Warner Bros. has 'parked' the Fantastic Beasts franchise since the release of the third film, with no new movies announced or in active development.
Johnny Depp's story is a reminder of how public controversies can impact international film careers and franchises.
His candid remarks highlight the pressures actors face behind the scenes, beyond their on-screen performances.
Johnny Depp's experience also raises questions about the intersection of personal life and professional opportunities in the global entertainment industry.
This was as a significant chapter in Depp's career, reflecting both the challenges and the enduring spirit of one of Hollywood's most iconic actors.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
15-07-2025
- TimesLIVE
Top 5 celebrity court cases give Mamkhize a run for her money
The glamorous lives of celebrities are often tarnished by what happens behind the scenes. From authors to kwaito stars, legal cases with dramatic twists have become all too common in the world of the rich and famous. Businesswoman and reality TV star Shauwn Mkhize's has been one case, with the South African Revenue Services (Sars) pressing charges for her failure to pay the taxman. Her prized fleet of 14 vehicles were individually sold in a Sars-sanctioned auction in Durban and Joburg last year, after she reportedly owed R40m in back taxes. See this list of five other celebrities who have made headlines for their court cases. BONANG MATHEBA According to a TimesLIVE report, in 2018, Sars opened a fraud case against South African television personality, actress and presenter Bonang Matheba for not paying personal tax from 2008-2017 and company tax from 2014-2017. During her case, she appeared at the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court after she paid an admission of guilt fine of R30,000. R22,000 was paid for personal taxes not filed and R8,000 for company taxes, listed under Bonang Matheba Entertainment (Pty) Ltd. JACKIE PHAMOTSE In 2023, Jackie Phamotse was found guilty in a high-profile defamation case brought against her by celebrity couple Basetsana Kumalo and her husband, businessman Romeo Kumalo. The legal saga originated from a controversial tweet posted by Phamotse in 2018, where she made allegations insinuating the existence of a compromising video involving the Kumalos and another male figure. Phamotse was sentenced to a two-year house arrest and was fined R30,000 for defamation. ARTHUR MAFOKATE According to The Citizen, the court agreed with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) that musician Arthur Mafokate could not show how he purchased properties and cars without a National Lottery Commission grant he had requested for R9.3m. The grant was meant to provide unemployed youth in poor and rural areas with skills in the entertainment industry; instead, R7.5m was used to purchase a guest house, La Villa Rosa in Midrand. During the court proceedings, Mafokate argued that the funds were necessary to help deliver the required services. He appealed against a ruling to have the property released from a preservation order, but it was dismissed. JOHNNY DEPP AND AMBER HEARD Depp's ex-wife and actor Amber Heard accused him of domestic abuse, which she detailed in a 2018 Washington Post essay. Depp denied all allegations and instead claimed that it was Heard who was violent towards him. He filed a suit against her for defamation, for which she filed a countersuit alleging the same. Clips of the trial went viral on social media. Heard was found liable in all three matters of defamation raised and was ordered to pay her ex-husband $10m (R178,991,992) compensatory damages and $5m (R89,506,441) in punitive damages. The latter was reduced to $350,000 (R6,263,018) due to a limit imposed by a state law. Depp was found liable on one charge of defamation and ordered to pay Heard $2m (R35,783,058). Kendall Jenner had to cough up for falsely promoting the fictional Fyre Festival. Image: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic KENDALL JENNER VS GREGORY MESSER No stranger to lawsuits, Kendall Jenner's most renowned legal troubles came from her and US Bankruptcy Court trustee Gregory Messer for the false promotion of Fyre Festival, a 2017 music event that famously never even happened. Jenner, who was among several celebrities to post about it, was paid $275,000 (R4,919,258) to endorse the event. Messer, who was trying to recover money on behalf of many creditors, argued that Jenner not only failed to disclose to her followers that she was paid for the advertising but also led them to believe the festival would be filled with famous models on an 'exotic private island with first-class culinary experiences and a luxury atmosphere'. She eventually agreed to pay $90,000 (R1,610,523) to settle.
eNCA
14-07-2025
- eNCA
'Superman' soars to top of North American box office
LOS ANGELES - "Superman" the latest big-budget action film featuring the iconic DC superhero, powered to the top of the North American box office in its debut weekend with $122-million in ticket sales, industry estimates showed. The Warner Bros. and DC Studios film -- directed by James Gunn -- stars up-and-comer David Corenswet as the Man of Steel, and "The Marvelous Mrs Maisel" star Rachel Brosnahan as his perennial love interest Lois Lane. "This is an outstanding domestic opening for the 7th episode in a superhero story that's been filmed for over 75 years," said analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. "Mr Gunn chose not to rely on big stars. The storytelling and filmmaking are doing the work here." "Jurassic World: Rebirth" -- the latest instalment in the blockbuster dinosaur saga -- slipped to second place in its second week of release at $40-million in the United States and Canada, Exhibitor Relations said. The Universal film, starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali, takes viewers to an abandoned island research facility for the original Jurassic Park theme park, where secrets -- and genetically mutated dinosaurs -- are lurking. "F1: The Movie," the Apple and Warner Bros. flick starring Brad Pitt as a washed-up Formula One driver who gets one last shot at redemption, took third place at $13-million. "How to Train Your Dragon," Universal and DreamWorks Animation's live-action reboot of the popular 2010 film, came in at fourth place with $7.8-million. "It's summertime and the big pictures are loud and visually dazzling: 'Superman,' 'Jurassic,' 'F1,' and 'How to Train Your Dragon'," Gross said. "Audiences want to be transported and taken away, and they're getting what they want."
The South African
09-07-2025
- The South African
Johnny Depp reveals shocking truth behind ‘Fantastic Beasts' exit
Johnny Depp has finally opened up about his sudden exit from the Fantastic Beasts film series. The actor revealed that Warner Bros. essentially wanted him to retire from the role of Gellert Grindelwald. He recalled the moment he was asked to step down during filming. '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'. Johnny Depp's departure came in November 2020, following his highly publicised legal battle with The Sun newspaper, according to Deadline. The tabloid had labelled him a 'wife-beater' during his marriage to Amber Heard, allegations he denied. After losing the libel case, Warner Bros. requested Depp's resignation from the franchise. Depp complied and stated, 'I wish to let you know that Warner Bros. has asked me to resign from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts.' I have respected and agreed to that request'. However, Johnny Depp's recent comments to The Telegraph were more defiant. When asked about the recasting, he responded bluntly, 'F**** you. There's far too many of me to kill. Johnny Depp said, 'If you think you can hurt me more than I've already been hurt, you're gravely mistaken.' His words reveal the deep frustration he feels about how they handled the situation. Johnny Depp first appeared as Grindelwald at the end of 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them , with Colin Farrell playing the character's disguised form. He reprised the role in 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald . After his departure, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen took over the role for the 2022 film Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore . This film became the final movie in the planned series. Warner Bros. has 'parked' the Fantastic Beasts franchise since the release of the third film, with no new movies announced or in active development. Johnny Depp's story is a reminder of how public controversies can impact international film careers and franchises. His candid remarks highlight the pressures actors face behind the scenes, beyond their on-screen performances. Johnny Depp's experience also raises questions about the intersection of personal life and professional opportunities in the global entertainment industry. This was as a significant chapter in Depp's career, reflecting both the challenges and the enduring spirit of one of Hollywood's most iconic actors. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
