Johnny Depp Breaks Silence on Being Recast in Fantastic Beasts: “F–k You”

Johnny Depp has finally spoken out about being pushed out of the Fantastic Beasts franchise—a chapter in his career that ended controversially five years ago. In a candid interview with The Telegraph published on July 5, Depp addressed his 2020 forced resignation from the Harry Potter spinoff series with raw emotion and defiance.

“They said we’d like you to resign,” Depp, now 62, recalled. “But what was really in my head was they wanted me to retire.” Depp’s announcement to step away from the role of dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald came soon after his high-profile libel trial loss against The Sun newspaper, which had labeled him a “wife-beater” during his marriage to Amber Heard.

At the time, Depp stated, “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.” Yet when asked this weekend about his reaction to being recast, his response was far less measured: “F–k you. There’s far too many of me to kill. If you think you can hurt me more than I’ve already been hurt, you’re gravely mistaken.”

Depp originated the role of Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) and reprised it in The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018). Following his departure, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen took over the role for The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022). The franchise continues to feature Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander and Jude Law as a young Albus Dumbledore.

Despite regaining significant public support after a largely victorious 2022 defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard, Depp has mostly kept a low profile on the big screen. His most recent live-action role was portraying Louis XV in the French film Jeanne du Barry (2023).

Off-camera, Depp is exploring new creative avenues. On July 8, he stepped out for the red carpet premiere of Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness at The Curzon Mayfair in London—the first film he has directed since 1997’s The Brave. The film, starring Al Pacino and Riccardo Scamarcio, marks a significant milestone for Depp, who described the directing experience as “incredibly fulfilling and transformative” in a statement last year. He also expressed deep gratitude to the cast, crew, and producers for their dedication.

As Depp continues to navigate his post-Fantastic Beasts career, his outspoken response to the franchise recasting underscores the lingering scars of a turbulent chapter—while also signaling that the actor remains defiantly unbowed.