Johnny Depp is out as Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beats franchise.
On Friday (November 6), Depp took to Instagram to share the news that Warner Bros. has asked him to resign from the Harry Potter spinoff series. After losing his recent libel case, which saw the actor suing The Sun after the outlet referred to him as a "wife beater" in an article claiming he physically assaulted his ex-wife Amber Heard, Depp agreed to step away from the Fantastic Beasts franchise. The judge in the libel trial concluded that the "great majority of alleged assaults" against Heard had been "proved to the civil standard."
"First, I'd like to thank everybody who has gifted me with their support and loyalty. I have been humbled and moved by your many messages of love and concern, particularly over the last few days," Depp wrote in a message to his supporters on Instagram. "Secondly, 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 surreal judgement of the court in the UK will not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal," he added. "My resolve remains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false. My life and career will not be defined by this moment in time."
Warner Bros. confirmed the news in a statement of their own. They also revealed that Depp's character will be recast before the franchise's third installment releases in 2022. "We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date," the statement reads. "Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in production, and the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be recast. The film will debut in theaters worldwide in the summer of 2022."
Photo: Warner Bros.