Johnny Depp Forced Out Of ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Film Franchise After Losing ‘Wife Beater’ Lawsuit

Johnny Depp was forced to exit the Fantastic Beasts film franchise, he announced on Friday in an Instagram post.

“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,” he said in the statement.

A Warner Bros. spokesperson said: “Johnny Depp will depart the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ franchise. We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date.” The movie confirmed that the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be re-cast and that the film, which is currently in production, has had its release date pushed from November 2021 to summer 2022.

In the statement Depp also wrote about losing his libel case against the British tabloid newspaper The Sun. He had sued the paper for calling him a “wife-beater” after his ex-wife Amber Heard accused him of physically abusing her.

“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 said. He called the judgement on the case “surreal” and confirmed that he plans to appeal.

He is also in the process of suing Heard for defamation in the United States after she wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post in which she called herself a survivor of sexual and physical violence.