Johnny Depp has spoken out about his exit from the “Fantastic Beasts” series.
In an interview with Telecommunications, the director of “Modi: A Madness Three Days,” which aired on July 5, he reflected on being recast from the “Harry Potter” spinoff franchise five years ago.
Depp, now 62, shared, “They told us we wanted you to resign. But to me, it felt like they really wanted me to retire.”
He played the villain Gellert Grindelwald in the initial two “Fantastic Beasts” films but announced his exit from the franchise in November 2020, following a legal defeat in a libel case against The Sun, which labeled him a “wife beater” during his marriage to Amber Heard.
“I’d like to state that I was asked to resign from Warner Bros. due to my involvement as Grindelwald in ‘Fantastic Beasts.’ I honored their request,” he explained.
When asked about his recasting recently, Depp’s reply was quite blunt: “F-K you. There are too many people to hurt. If you think you can damage me more than I already am, you’re seriously mistaken.”
Depp first appeared as Grindelwald in 2016’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” before reprising the role in “The Crimes of Grindelwald” in 2018. However, after his resignation, he was succeeded by Mads Mikkelsen in 2022’s “Dumbledore’s Secret.”
Alongside Depp, the franchise featured Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander and Jude Law as a younger Albus Dumbledore. Despite winning a significant defamation suit against Heard in 2022, Depp has largely remained out of the public eye.
His latest live-action role was in 2023’s “Jeanne du Barry,” yet he has kept busy in other ways.
On July 8, he attended the London premiere of “Modi: Three Days of Madness Wings.”
“Modi,” which stars Al Pacino and Riccardo Scamarcio, marks Depp’s first directorial effort since 1997’s “The Brave.” He expressed that it was a deeply rewarding journey, thanking the cast and crew for their dedication and creativity.
Looking ahead, Depp is set to lead in the upcoming film “Day Drinker,” featuring Madelyn Cline and Penélope Cruz. The film’s plot revolves around a yacht bartender who encounters enigmatic guests, linking them to a detective figure played by Cruz, leading to unexpected connections.
