Advertisement
Johnny Depp has finally broken his silence about being dropped from the Fantastic Beasts franchise—a moment that marked a significant turning point in his career during a highly publicized legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard. In a candid interview with The Telegraph, the actor opened up about how it all unfolded and what his reaction was when the studio effectively ended his role as Gellert Grindelwald.
In 2022, amid the escalating defamation trial, Warner Bros. asked Depp to step down from his role in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. The decision sparked massive controversy and backlash from his fanbase, many of whom believed Depp had been prematurely punished by the industry before any final legal verdict.
Reflecting on that moment, Depp didn’t hold back. “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 said, seemingly brushing off the noise surrounding his name at the time. But when it came to the actual phone call from the studio, he admitted, “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 how he responded, Depp said bluntly, “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.” His words echoed the emotional and reputational toll the ordeal had taken, but also a refusal to be broken by it.
Depp’s last appearance as Grindelwald was in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, and though his portrayal was divisive in some circles, it undeniably left a mark. The franchise saw a downturn after his exit, and despite Mads Mikkelsen’s competent replacement performance, many fans never fully accepted the switch.
Mikkelsen himself acknowledged the challenge. “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 no way I could just copy it, because it’s so much him. It would be creative suicide.” He added that while he did his best to bridge the gap, he understood the backlash from loyal Depp fans. “His fans were very, very sweet, but they were also very stubborn… I could understand why they had their hearts broken.”
Depp’s remarks now bring some clarity and closure for many who’ve followed his career closely, especially those who supported him throughout the legal battles. While he has since shifted gears with more selective projects and festival appearances, the scars from this period are clearly still there—but so is his defiance.
All Fantastic Beasts films, including the one that ultimately excluded him, are currently streaming on Prime Video.