Johnny Depp Will Still Receive Full 8-Figure Salary For 'Fantastic Beasts'

Last week, Johnny Depp took to Instagram to inform his followers that Warner Bros. has asked him to resign from the Harry Potter spinoff series Fantastic Beasts. 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."

Despite being asked to leave the franchise, Depp will still make a ton of money for his brief involvement in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts film. According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, the 57-year-old actor will be compensated his full eight-figure salary for the third installment in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3. He only shot one scene before being asked to step down from the role.

Depp's contract reportedly has a "pay-or-play contract," which means he's guaranteed pay even if he's released from his contract for whatever reason. His contract also had no "morality clause" in place, either.

The role of Gellert Grindelwald, which Depp played in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, will be recast for the franchise's final three films. The third film went into production in London back in September.

Photo: Warner Bros.