Johnny Depp reflects on Fantastic Beasts recasting 5 years later: “F**k you”

Johnny Depp
Photo Credit: Ian West/PA Images/INSTARimages

Johnny Depp boldly stated in a recent profile with The Telegraph that his immediate reaction to Warner Bros. asking him to step down from his role as Gellert Grindelwald during the making of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore was a defiant โ€œfuck you.โ€

So, what happened? Long story short, Johnny Depp was asked by Warner Bros. to step down from his role in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. This news hit the internet like a rogue Bludger, leaving many fans scratching their heads and wondering what in the name of Merlinโ€™s beard was going on.

The request for his departure came shortly after Depp lost a high-profile libel case in the UK against The Sun newspaper, which had called him a โ€œwife-beater.โ€ While Depp maintained his innocence, the legal battle undoubtedly cast a shadow over his public image and, by extension, the Fantastic Beasts films.

Johnny Depp "Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds With Shane Macgowan" Photocall - 68th San Sebastian Film Festival
Actor Johnny Depp attends โ€˜Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds With Shane Macgowanโ€™ photocall during the 68th San Sebastian International Film Festival at the Kursaal Palace on September 20, 2020 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

Depp described his reaction, he told The Telegraph, โ€œIt literally stopped in a millisecond, like, while I was doing the movie. They said weโ€™d like you to resign. But what was really in my head was they wanted me to retire.โ€

What did he really think of the decision? โ€œFuck you. Thereโ€™s far too many of me to kill. If you think you can hurt me more than Iโ€™ve already been hurt youโ€™re gravely mistaken.โ€

Johnny Depp Libel Trial Enters Third Week
Actor Johnny Depp waves as he departs Royal Courts of Justice, Strand on July 20, 2020 in London, England. The Hollywood Actor is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) and the Sunโ€™s executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an article published in 2018 that referred to him as a โ€œwife beaterโ€ during is marriage to actor Amber Heard. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Depp would go on to be โ€œshunned, dumped, booted, deep-sixed, canceledโ€ in Hollywood or โ€œhowever you want to define it,โ€ he added to The Telegraph.

Now, letโ€™s be real, Deppโ€™s portrayal of Grindelwald was a major draw for many viewers. He brought a certain captivating darkness to the character that was hard to ignore. So, the news of his exit definitely stirred up a cauldron of emotions among fans. Some were disappointed, feeling that no one else could truly capture the essence of Grindelwald like Depp. Others, however, felt that the decision was understandable given the circumstances.

Johnny Depp Appears At The High Court In London
Johnny Depp is seen leaving the Royal Courts of Justice on February 26, 2020 in London, England. The Hollywood actor is suing The Sun newspaper over claims he beat up his ex-wife Amber Heard. (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

But the show must go on, right? And it did. Warner Bros. quickly announced that Mads Mikkelsen would be taking over the role of Grindelwald in the subsequent film, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Mikkelsen, known for his chilling performances in films like Casino Royale and the Hannibal TV series, stepped into the wizarding shoes with his own brand of sinister charm.

Of course, the change in casting led to a whole new wave of reactions. Some fans embraced Mikkelsenโ€™s interpretation, praising his nuanced and menacing portrayal. Others still longed for Deppโ€™s return, feeling a disconnect with the new Grindelwald. Itโ€™s safe to say that the whole situation was a rollercoaster of emotions for the Fantastic Beasts fandom.


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