Although the Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling and long-time Potter movie director David Yates were considering recasting for the titular role in The Crimes of Grindelwald, the sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, she and the director, as well as Warner Bros., are now standing behind Johnny Depp’s casting in the new movie despite a wave of Potter fans objecting to the decision.
In a statement to ET, Rowling said:
“When Johnny Depp was cast as Grindelwald, I thought he’d be wonderful in the role. However, around the time of filming his cameo in the first movie, stories had appeared in the press that deeply concerned me and everyone most closely involved in the franchise.
“Harry Potter fans had legitimate questions and concerns about our choice to continue with Johnny Depp in the role. As David Yates, long-time Potter director, has already said, we naturally considered the possibility of recasting. I understand why some have been confused and angry about why that didn’t happen.”
Rowling continued in the same vein, alluding to the anguish she has been going through from not being able to disclose the whole story:
“The huge, mutually supportive community that has grown up around Harry Potter is one of the greatest joys of my life. For me personally, the inability to speak openly to fans about this issue has been difficult, frustrating and at times painful.
“However, the agreements that have been put in place to protect the privacy of two people, both of whom have expressed a desire to get on with their lives, must be respected. Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies.”
Warner Bros. in a written statement to ET, echoed Rowling’s sentiment:
“We are of course aware of reports that surfaced around the end of Johnny Depp’s marriage, and take seriously the complexity of the issues involved.
“This matter has been jointly addressed by both parties, in a statement in which they said ‘there was never any intent of physical or emotional harm. Based on the circumstances and the information available to us, we, along with the filmmakers, continue to support the decision to proceed with Johnny Depp in the role of Grindelwald in this and future films.”
The background to all this is Johnny Depp’s somewhat tumultuous divorce from his wife of one year, Amber Heard, last year. After Heard filed for a restraining order against Depp alleging abuse and Depp vehemently denying all allegations, Heard withdrew the order. Subsequently, the couple settled their divorce and issued the following statement:
“Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gains. There was never an intent of physical or emotional harm.”
Heard now advocates actively for domestic violence awareness.
+++ + +++
