Johnny Depp will no longer portray the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald in the “Fantastic Beasts” film franchise, the actor announced Friday.
Depp said he plans to appeal the ruling.
Warner Bros. confirmed Depp’s departure and announced his role will be recast before the third installment opens in theaters.
“Johnny Depp will depart the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ franchise.
We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date,” a Warner Bros. spokesperson said.
The prequel series, set decades before the adventures of everyone’s favorite bespectacled boy wizard, is intended to be a five-film franchise.
Despite public outcry from fans, author J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. vehemently defended the decision to stick with Depp at the time. »