Johnny Depp recently sent out a statement revealing that Warner Bros. had asked him to "resign" from the role of Gellert Gridelwald in the third Fantastic Beasts movie after he lost a libel case against British tabloid The Sun, and more details on the studio's decision to sever ties with the troubled actor have now come to light.
According to THR, WB chief Toby Emmerich made the call after a U.K. judge dismissed Depp’s defamation claims because the ruling makes it a lot easier for news outlets to refer to him as a "wife beater", creating a major PR headache for the studio.
Depp didn't seem to kick up much of a fuss, and that's probably because he's still going to net his full salary!
Despite only shooting one scene since production commenced on September 20, Depp's "pay-or-play" contract entitles him to full compensation whether or not the film is made or his character recast, meaning the studio is required to fork out the actor's full eight-figure salary (rumoured to be in the $10 million range).
Apparently, Harry Potter writer J.K. Rowling "did not push back on Warners’ move to cut the actor from the franchise" despite being a staunch defender of Depp's in the past.
WB is currently searching for a replacement for to play Grindelwald, who is expected to play a major part in the next film. Colin Farrell, who played the disguised version of the villain in the first movie, will not return.
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Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.