Introduction to Johnny Depp’s Departure from Fantastic Beasts
Johnny Depp has spoken out about his sudden departure from the film Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. In a recent interview with The Telegraph, the actor revealed his thoughts when Warner Bros. asked him to leave the Harry Potter prequel franchise.
Depp’s Initial Reaction
Depp’s internal response was, "F*ck you. There are far too many of me to kill. If you think you can hurt me more than I have already been hurt, it’s hard to be wrong." He had only worked on Secrets of Dumbledore for one day before his departure, which came just 24 hours after he lost his defamation case in 2020, where he was described as a "wife beater." The British court ultimately decided that the characterization of Depp was essentially true.
Official Statements
Following his departure, Warner Bros. released a formal statement, saying, "Johnny Depp will leave the Fantastic Beasts franchise. We thank Johnny for his work on the films to this day." Depp also released a public statement on Instagram, expressing gratitude to those who had supported him.
Private Thoughts and Feelings
However, in private, Depp felt blindsided. "It literally stood in a millisecond when I made the film," he told The Telegraph. "You said we want you to step back. But what was really in my head wanted me to retire." He described the experience as being "avoided, unloaded, booted, booted, deeply, canceled."
Reputation and Defamation Cases
In 2022, Depp’s reputation faced another challenge when he sued his ex-wife, Amber Heard, in a highly publicized US defamation case. Heard had written a Washington Post op-ed, describing herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse." The jury ultimately ruled in Depp’s favor, deciding that Heard had defamed him.
Moving Forward
Despite the years of negative headlines and what Depp calls "all hit pieces, The Bullshit," he has made peace with the situation. "Look, none of it was easy, but I didn’t care. I thought: ‘I will fight until the bitterly damn end.’ What if I pumped gas in the end?" Depp is now making his slow return to Hollywood, reunited with Pirates co-star Penelope Cruz in the upcoming action comedy Day Drinker.
Source
Source: The Telegraph
