Many people are justifiably mad that Johnny Depp is now part of the Fantastic Beasts franchise. Depp has a large role in the second film, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, as he plays Grindelwald. He got the role in 2014-15, as he put in a cameo in the first film. Remember that we didn’t really know the extent of Depp’s abusive douchery until 2016, when Amber Heard filed for divorce. So, he already had the Grindelwald role, although I would argue that they could have easily replaced him for cause for the second film. But no, they didn’t. And now he’s confirming that he’ll be in the third Fantastic Beasts movie too.
How he came to the Fantastic Beast movies: “It was amazing. It came out of nowhere. Someone said J.K. Rowling would like to talk to me. I spoke to a few producers and the director and to J.K. and had long conversations basically about the Grindelwald character. J.K. said something I did not expect to hear because obviously her detail to her characters and those wizarding worlds is astonishing. The fact that she said, “I can’t wait to see what you do with the character.” Just to hand it off to me with that degree of trust, I was really touched, blown away by that. So I jumped into locating the character and I had my ideas. I came in and it all seemed to work out. Grindelwald is an interesting character. His intentions in his mind are for the greater good, but there have been other people in world politics and such who felt the same way. [chuckles] He’s very dedicated to his beliefs. He’s not a fun character; he’s not funny.
He enjoys playing the character: “I loved it yeah. I loved it because that’s really an arena where you can fly around and try different things and approach a character with a lot more…um…to take someone who is teetering on being a fascist, yeah he’s a fascist, he’s one of those, but to play him as a sensitive, concerned yet manipulative and powerful wizard. The possibilities in that world are wide open, so you can really try anything. So it was a gas and I look forward to the next installment, which I think we start the middle of next year.
So, there you go. JK Rowling hand-picked Depp to play Grindelwald, which is probably why she was so nonsensical in her defense of his casting – SHE decided that he needed to play Grindelwald and I guess no one could talk her out of it. And now Depp is clinging to this like it’s his last chance at a successful franchise, because he completely drove the Pirates franchise into the ground. I find myself angrier at JK Rowling and the producers for this mess. Ugh.
Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN.
Please karma creators, let part II tank.
I am a total Potterhead and I am so disappointed I won’t be seeing this movie.
Me, either. I’ll wait for it to come out on Netflix or cable. Or better yet, get a bootleg copy at a barber shop in the Bronx 😀
yep same here
Well there’s a movie I won’t be seeing. I loathe this tool and refuse to see anything with him in it. It would just make me hurl into my popcorn.
I have no qualms giving second chances to people that work hard to earn them. This does not describe Depp, quite the opposite in fact. Still an addict defending his crass behavior.
I understand a lot of his people will protect and promote him for their own financial gain. But Rowling? I just don’t get it. How can she support him?
Thank you for saying this — there is nothing redemptive or redeemable about Depp right now either personally or professionally and it is BAFFLING to me how anyone could argue otherwise.
I’ll pass
Why in the world anyone would still want to work with a woman beater like Depp is beyond me
Ummmmm….we could have had Colin Farrell for 2 and 3.
Mmmmmm … Colin Farrell … *wipes away tears at lack of Colin Farrell*
Colin Farrell is my imaginary boyfriend and I was very disappointed to see him replaced by Depp, who in addition to being a douche bag, has long lost whatever talent he may have had.
Even if he managed some massive feat of contrition and got himself right with his family and victims I still wouldn’t want to see him in anything — the magic left him awhile back and all he has is now is a rather pedantic shtick. Give us Colin!
I was thinking why wont they bring back Farrell?
I’m so glad I thought the first one was duller than dirt, it is making ignoring it so much easier. No great loss if the series fails, it’s utterly mediocre. I guess I feel a bit bad for Eddie Redmayne though, even though I’m not much of a fan. He was cast as the franchise star and now they are clearly shoving him to the side for Depp and Jude Law. He seems like an afterthought (they’re like: right…that guy, didn’t he win an award or something? Sure get a shot of him in there.). And don’t even get me started on the supposed female stars.
I have Depp in my current celebrity death pool. Every time I see his name pop up I figure it’s just a matter of time. He looks like sh*t.
The first movie was BORING and just plain confusing. Too many characters with little focus on plot. I guess Eddie Redmayne was the lead? Also, was there a reason Colin Farrell was replaced? If they wanted people to be horrified by his transformation into Depp/Grindlewald, then it worked.
Yeah, the first movie was garbage. I wasn’t planning to waste money on the second movie, even if they got rid of Depp.
I wonder if there’s anyone out there who’s job it is to estimate the amount of money they have lost by casting Johnny Depp. There must be a lot of women who refuse to see these movies or take their kids to see them.
Harry Potter was born in 1980. During the Battle of Hogwarts, in the Deathly Hallows Book, it’s 1998 and Harry is just turning 18. Grindlewald is alive, in a cell, in his own fortress, in that time but V does kill him in 1998. But Grindlewald is born in 1883 and imprisoned in 1945. Fantastic Beasts takes place in 1920s. The timelines for the movies is that the first FB movie came out in 2016. There are at least 7 movies coming out in this series. To be released every two years like the potter series. So 2018-2028
“There are at least 7 movies coming out in this series.”
Ugh. What a hideous thought! Doesn’t J.K. Rowling have enough money not to damage the Harry Potter legacy with this mediocre prequel?
My bad. I thought there were 7. But she did say 10 years of movies, so I’m a ding ding :-p What I do know is that they cover the span of time up until Grindlewald is imprisoned in 1945 so looks like it’s a lot of Albus and Gellert
There will be five movies not seven, but yes it’s going to be quite a while until filming wraps on this franchise. And Johnny doesn’t seem to be in the best health…
I’m so depressed by this privileged white dude zero accountability era we live in. I’m really wondering if it’s ever going to get any better.
I still don’t understand why they replaced Colin Farrell. He was perfect. Like someone said above, I’m a total Potterhead but I cannot and will not support this.
He’ll also be in #4 and #5 because JK Rowling said the 5th movie will be set in 1945, which is when Dumbledore finally defeats Grindelwald.
I’m a huge Potter fan, but I’ve cancelled JKR and the Fantastic Beasts series because this is nonsense. I refuse to support Johnny Depp and his enablers.
How many scraves did Rowling want Grindelwald to wear??!!!
Though you know, at least he’s playing a villain villain (not a likable scamp of the Sparrow kind)
” I find myself angrier at JK Rowling and the producers for this mess”
THIS 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I just love that no-one cares that Amber Heard is still working – despite also being charged with domestic violence against her girlfriend in the past… I’m a woman and I don’t condone domestic violence, from anyone – but it just seems that the women are allowed to get away with it without much fuss!!