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Johnny Depp is opening up about his sudden departure from the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise and the events that led to Mads Mikkelsen taking over his role as the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. In a recent chat with The Telegraph during the U.K. premiere of his new film 'Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness', Depp looked back on how suddenly his time in the Wizarding World came to a close.
The actor explained that his role as Grindelwald ended instantly while filming in late 2020. According to Depp, the studio requested his resignation, but he interpreted their true intention as wanting him to retire from the industry altogether. This moment came shortly after he lost a libel lawsuit against The Sun newspaper, which had published allegations related to his former marriage to actress Amber Heard.
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Johnny Depp's Response to Removal From The Franchise
Johnny Depp said that at first, he felt defiant after being taken off the project. He felt there was little left that could hurt him further, given what he had already endured. Warner Bros. hasn’t replied to any questions about Depp’s recent comments.
Depp originally joined the 'Fantastic Beasts' series with a surprise cameo at the end of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' (2016), then reprised the role in 2018’s 'The Crimes of Grindelwald'. Following his departure, Mads Mikkelsen stepped into the role for 2022’s 'The Secrets of Dumbledore'.
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Image Courtesy: IMDb
The film series, a spin-off of 'Harry Potter', starred Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander and followed his entanglement with Grindelwald, alongside Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore. While initially planned as a five-film arc, the franchise’s future remains uncertain. Director David Yates previously described the series as being “parked,” and Jude Law indicated the films are likely on hold as HBO develops a new TV adaptation of the original 'Harry Potter' novels.
Since stepping away from 'Fantastic Beasts', Johnny Depp has taken on fewer roles in front of the camera. Aside from the French historical drama 'Jeanne du Barry' (2023), 'Modi' marks his return to filmmaking and the director’s chair for the first time in over two decades.
