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USA Today
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Johnny Depp shares honest reaction to 'Fantastic Beasts' firing: 'They wanted me to retire'
Johnny Depp isn't mincing words about his firing from the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise. In an interview with The Telegraph published Saturday, July 5, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star, 62, looked back on being dropped from the "Harry Potter" prequel movies in 2020 amid allegations that he abused his ex-wife Amber Heard. The allegations were part of a yearslong legal saga, and Depp's firing came on the heels of a U.K. judge ruling that a British tabloid's article referring to the actor as a "wife beater" was "substantially true." "It literally stopped in a millisecond, like, while I was doing the movie," Depp said. "They said we'd like you to resign. But what was really in my head was they wanted me to retire." The actor, who has denied abusing Heard, recalled his explicit, angry response and remembered thinking, "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." Depp announced in November 2020 that he had "been asked to resign by Warner Bros." from his role as the villain Grindelwald in the "Fantastic Beasts" films and has "respected and agreed to that request." His exit came after the actor lost a libel case in the U.K. against The Sun concerning an article that called him a "wife beater" in reference to allegations that he was physically abusive to Heard. A judge ruled that what the tabloid published was "substantially true." Depp later won a separate libel case against Heard in Virginia in 2022 after he sued over an article she wrote about being a victim of domestic abuse. Heard partially won a countersuit, with the jury finding that Depp's lawyer defamed her. Both parties have accused the other of being the abuser in their relationship, which each has denied. Depp played Grindelwald, the main villain of the "Harry Potter" prequel series, in the first two "Fantastic Beasts" movies, released in 2016 and 2018. For the third entry, 2022's "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore," the role was taken over by Mads Mikkelsen. Two additional "Fantastic Beasts" films were planned, but the franchise came to a halt after "The Secrets of Dumbledore" performed under expectations at the box office. Warner Bros. later announced a "Harry Potter" HBO series that will adapt the original books again, with author J.K. Rowling's involvement. Depp recently reflected on his 2022 court battle with Heard in an interview with The Sunday Times, telling the outlet he does not regret it. "Look, none of this was going (to) be easy, but I didn't care," he said. "I thought, 'I'll fight until the bitter …end.' And if I end up pumping gas? That's all right. I've done that before."
The South African
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- 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.
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Johnny Depp says abusive mom beat him with shoe, stick, and ashtray: ‘She showed me exactly what not to do as a parent'
Johnny Depp recently sat down for hour-long conversation with The Telegraph. The actor, who was dropped by Warner Bros.' from Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore during his highly publicised trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, recalled the moment he was asked to resign. 'If you think you can hurt me more than I've already been hurt, you're gravely mistaken,' he said. Depp shared how his past shaped his present, and opened up about the abuse he suffered at the hands of his late mother, Betty Sue Palmer. Depp, making his comeback in the acting scene, is the father of two kids, Lily‑Rose (26) and Jack (23), whom he shares with ex-wife Vanessa Paradis. Speaking to The Telegraph, the actor said he'll forever be thankful to his mother for showing him exactly how not to raise his own kids. He described his father as calm during fights, standing silently while Betty Sue Palmer would lash out at him. 'And when my mother would go off on a tangent toward my father, and of course, in front of the kids, it didn't matter to her, he, amazingly, remained very stoic. As she was rationing him with horrible things, he stood there and just looked at her while she delivered the pain, and he swallowed it. He took it.' The actor then recalled how the violence would turn toward them. 'She beat me with a f—ing stick, a f—ing shoe, an ashtray, a phone, it didn't matter, man.' Also read: Johnny Depp says he is a 'sucker' for love, was betrayed by three people close to him during Amber Heard trial: 'They were at my kids' parties' Depp explained that while the physical pain faded, the psychological wounds stuck around, and still do. Depp's sister, Christi Dembrowski, remembered the same. When asked in court whether Depp ever hit back at his mom, Christi said, 'He never went to that place.' She remembered how their mother used to throw things, lash out, and make everything a battlefield. She said both of them made a silent pact growing up. 'Once we had our own home,' she said, 'we were never going to repeat, ever, anything similar.' Depp, in a previous Sunday Times interview, opened up about raising his kids out of the spotlight in France and described how much he enjoyed being a father. 'I cannot tell you how much I loved being Papa.' However, after the couple called it quits in 2012 after almost 10 years together, he said, 'Then, suddenly, Papa was out the window. I was Dad.' The actor said the time spent in France with his family was the most beautiful period of his life. 'Truly, the first time I felt I had a home was the place in the south of France where Vanessa and I raised the kiddies,' he shared. 'That's the only place that ever felt like home.' Also read: Johnny Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard welcomes twins, opens up about her 'fertility challenges': 'I am eternally grateful' In the later part of the interview, Depp spoke about being asked to resign from the Warner Bros. project. '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,' he said, before adding, 'F*** you. There's far too many of me to kill.' Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard were embroiled in a high-profile defamation battle, where the Aquaman star accused the actor of domestic violence and, without naming him directly, wrote an op-ed about the same. In his earlier Sunday Times interview, the actor spoke about 'all the hit pieces, the bulls**t' that came with the trial, but said he can't keep defending himself forever for something he was wrongly accused of. 'Look, none of this was going to be easy, but I didn't care. I thought, 'I'll fight until the bitter f***ing end.' And if I end up pumping gas? That's all right. I've done that before.'
New York Post
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Johnny Depp responds to being recast in ‘Fantastic Beasts' franchise: ‘F–k you'
Johnny Depp has broken his silence on being pushed out of the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise. During an interview with The Telegraph published Saturday, July 5, the 'Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness' director opened up about being recast in the 'Harry Potter' spinoff series five years ago. 'They said we'd like you to resign,' Depp, 62, explained. 'But what was really in my head was they wanted me to retire.' 11 Johnny Depp at the premiere of 'Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness' on July 8, 2025, in London. Alberto Pezzali/Invision/AP 11 Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in 2018's 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.' ©Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection Depp, who portrayed the character Gellert Grindelwald in the first and second 'Fantastic Beasts' films, announced that he was resigning from the franchise in November 2020. His announcement came shortly after he lost a libel case against The Sun newspaper connected to a 2018 story calling him a 'wife-beater' while still married to Amber Heard. '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,' the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star said at the time. 11 Johnny Depp in 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.' ©Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection 11 Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.' ©Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection But when asked for a response to being recast over the weekend, Depp had a more pointed reply. 'F–k you,' he said. '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.' After portraying Grindelwald at the end of 2016's 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,' Depp returned to the role for the 2018 sequel, 'The Crimes of Grindelwald.' 11 Mads Mikkelsen after replacing Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald for 2022's 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.' ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection 11 Mads Mikkelsen as Gellert Grindelwald in 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.' ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection Then, following his resignation from the role in 2020, Depp was replaced by Mads Mikkelsen, 59, for 2022's 'The Secrets of Dumbledore.' Besides Depp, the franchise also starred Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander and Jude Law as a younger Albus Dumbledore. Despite emerging largely victorious from the defamation trial against ex-wife Heard, 39, in 2022, Depp has mostly stayed away from the big screen. 11 Johnny Depp in 'The Crimes of Grindelwald.' ©Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection 11 Johnny Depp before being asked to resign from the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise. ©Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection His last live-action role, which was as Louis XV in the French film 'Jeanne du Barry,' was in 2023. We're Tracking Prime Day Live! Unlock exclusive NYP codes and real-time deals on everyday must-haves. See Your Deals Still, the 'Edward Scissorhands' star has managed to keep busy in other ways. Depp stepped out at The Curzon Mayfair in London on Tuesday, July 8, for the red carpet premiere of 'Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness.' 11 Johnny Depp at the premiere of 'Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness' on Tuesday, July 8, in London. Ian West/PA Images/INSTARimages 11 Johnny Depp at the London premiere of 'Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness' on Tuesday, July 8. Ian West/PA Images/INSTARimages 'Modi,' which stars Al Pacino and Riccardo Scamarcio, marks the first film Depp has directed since 1997's 'The Brave.' 'Embarking on this cinematic journey as the director of 'Modi' has been an incredibly fulfilling and transformative experience,' the 'Blow' actor said in a statement about the film last year. 'I would like to express my profound gratitude to the entire cast, crew and producers for their unwavering commitment and creativity,' he added. 11 Johnny Depp at The Curzon Mayfair in London on Tuesday, July 8, for the red carpet premiere of 'Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness.' Alberto Pezzali/Invision/AP After 'Modi,' Depp is set to return to the big screen in a starring role for the new film 'Day Drinker' with Madelyn Cline, 27, and Penélope Cruz, 51. 'Day Drinker' will reportedly follow a private-yacht bartender (Cline) who encounters a mysterious guest (Depp), per Deadline. The pair then find themselves caught up with a criminal figure (Cruz) and connected in ways no one saw coming.
Pink Villa
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Johnny Depp Reacts to Being Dropped from Fantastic Beasts During Amber Heard Drama: ‘Wanted Me to Retire…'
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's public spat and legal battle hurt the duo massively on the professional front. The Edward Scissorhands star opened up about being dropped from the role of Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. The decision to replace the actor came in 2022, amid Depp trying to prove his innocence in the lawsuit filed against him by his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Following the exit of Depp from the movie, the Casino Royale and Doctor Strange star, Mads Mikkelsen, picked up the role where it was left off. Meanwhile, in conversation with The Telegraph, the Pirates of the Caribbean star shared how he reacted to being dropped by the makers of the franchise. Johnny Depp reacts to being ousted from Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore While sitting down for an interview with the media portal, Johnny Depp revealed, "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," about being dropped from the 2022 film. He further added, "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." When asked what the actor's response was at the moment, he said, "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." The actor marked his final appearance as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. While Depp received praise from the audience for his performance, his replacement acted as a downfall for the franchise. Speaking of filling Depp's shoes in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, Mikkelsen previously stated, "I'm a big fan of Johnny. I think he's an amazing actor, I think he did a fantastic job. Having said that, I could not copy it. There's there was no way I could just copy it, because it's so much him. It would be creative suicide.' He continued to reveal, "So, we had to come up with something else, something that was mine, and build a bridge between him and me. So, yes, it was intimidating." The Hannibal star further added, "His fans were very, very sweet, but they were also very stubborn. I didn't interact too much with them, but I could understand why they had their hearts broken."
