Johnny Depp has been dealt a bad hand when news came out that he lost his libel case against ex-wife Amber Heard, and this was followed by WB asking him to resign from the role of Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts films. While things are looking bleak for Depp, he does go away with one win.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Depp's contract means that WB will still pay him his full 8-figure salary despite only shooting one scene in the movie. They write:
Warner Bros. will be on the hook for Depp's full salary, even though he only had shot one scene since production began on September 20 in London. Like many A-list stars, Depp had a so-called pay-or-play contract, which requires that he be fully compensated whether or not the film is made and even if it is recast. As is common with stars of his level, there was no morality clause in his contract, even though it was amended with each new installment. Technically, Depp was not fired by Warner Bros. but asked to resign. It is unclear what recourse it would have had if the star refused.
While this is probably bad news for WB who still has to find someone to replace Depp, fans all think it's justice served—especially since they think that Depp really deserved to win his case. A lot of people are pointing fingers at the presiding judge who allegedly didn't take into consideration all of the hard evidence of Heard being abusive in the relationship as well. You can find the recordings by searching #JusticeForJohnnyDepp on Twitter.
Going back to Fantastic Beasts 3 though, they are short of one Grindelwald. We don't know who could take over the role, but I'm fine if they just recast the part without mentioning it in the film—much like what they did with Michael Gambon when he replaced Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore.
Fantastic Beasts 3 is now looking at a release on July 15, 2022.
Read Also: Fantastic Beasts 3 Gets New Release Date Following Johnny Depp Exit
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!
Harry Potter