Warner Bros. decision to cast Johnny Depp as Grindelwald in the forthcoming film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, the sequel to 2016’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and second in a five movie spinoff franchise from the blockbuster Harry Potter films, has been at the receiving end of a lot of outrage. Depp’s ex-wife Amber Heard had accused the actor of domestic violence in 2016.
On Thursday, Harry Potter author and Fantastic Beasts screenwriter J.K. Rowling supported this casting decision in the wake of a counterblast from fans. While breaking her silence and addressing her fans suggestions on recasting, Rowling defended the decision in a statement on her personal website.
She said that the circumstances of Depp’s divorce from actor Amber Heard last year were private and should be respected.
“Harry Potter fans had legitimate questions and concerns about our choice to continue with Johnny Depp in the role. 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. 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.”J.K. Rowling, Author and Screenwriter
Fantastic Beasts director David Yates commented on the pushback last week.
“Honestly, there’s an issue at the moment where there’s a lot of people being accused of things, they’re being accused by multiple victims, and it’s compelling and frightening. With Johnny, it seems to me there was one person who took a pop at him and claimed something. I can only tell you about the man I see every day: He’s full of decency and kindness, and that’s all I see. Whatever accusation was out there doesn’t tally with the kind of human being I’ve been working with.”David Yates, Director - Fantastic Beasts franchise
Following a private settlement in August 2016, Johnny Depp and his ex-wife had issued a joint statement saying their relationship was “intensely passionate and at times volatile but always bound by love,” and that there was “never any intent of physical or emotional harm”.
Fans on social media are clearly not taking this well.
Source: The Guardian and Entertainment Weekly
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