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The AngelsHollywood star Johnny Depp will no longer play Gellert Grindelwald in Warner Bros’ “Fantastic Beasts” franchise after losing his libel case against a UK newspaper.
Depp had sued News Group Newspapers, editor of The Sun, and the newspaper’s executive editor, Dan Wootton, in London High Court for an April 2018 article calling him a “wife beater”, accusing him of assaulting his ex-wife Amber Heard.
After a contentious summer trial that made world news for weeks, Judge Andrew Nicol dismissed the lawsuit on Monday, saying what the newspaper published was “substantially true.”
In a statement posted to Instagram on Friday, the 57-year-old actor said Warner Bros asked him to leave the franchise and that he has accepted the request.
“In light of recent events, I would like to make the following brief statement. First, I would like to thank everyone who has given me their support and loyalty. I have been honored and touched by their many messages of love and concern. particularly in the last days.
“Second, I want to let you know that Warner Bros asked me to resign from my role as Grindelwald in ‘Fantastic Beasts’ and that I have respected and accepted that request,” Depp wrote.
The actor, known for such blockbusters as “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Alice in Wonderland” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” first played Grindelwald in “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” of 2016.
He reprized the role in 2018’s “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” and was set to begin filming Part Three next year.
In his statement, Depp also revealed that he plans to appeal the ruling.
“The surreal judgment of the court in the UK will not change my struggle to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal.
“My determination remains firm and I intend to show that the accusations against me are false. My life and my career will not be defined at this time,” concluded the actor.
Warner Bros confirmed Depp’s departure and announced that his role will be recast before the third installment opens in theaters, Entertainment Weekly reported.
“Johnny Depp will be leaving the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ franchise. We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date.
‘Fantastic Beasts 3’ is currently in production and the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be recast. The film will debut in theaters around the world in the summer of 2022, “the studio said in a statement.
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