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Johnny Depp has resigned from his role as Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise and now Warner Bros. confirms that the role will be recast.

The Oscar-nominated actor said in a statement that the studio asked him to resign and he “respected and agreed to that request.”

The studio released a statement and said, “Johnny Depp will depart the Fantastic Beasts franchise. We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date. Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in production, and the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be recast. The film will debut in theaters worldwide in the summer of 2022.”

Jamie Campbell Bower played young Gellert Grindelwald in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and he reprised the role in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Fans are wondering if he might just take the reigns from Johnny moving forward.

Johnny Depp is resigning, and maintaining that he is telling the truth.

The 57-year-old actor confirmed that Warner Bros. asked him to resign from the role of Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts following his libel lawsuit loss involving ex Amber Heard‘s allegations.

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“In light of recent events, I would like to make the following short statement. Firstly, I’d like to thank everybody who has gifted me with their support and loyalty.
I have been humbled and moved by your many messages of love and concern, particularly over the last few days. Secondly, 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,” he wrote in a note.

“Finally, I wish to say this. The surreal judgement of the court in the W.K. will not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal. My resolve remains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false. My life and career will not be defined by this moment in time. Thank you for reading.”

Find out more about the decision in the libel lawsuit.

Amber Heard‘s lawyer is reacting to the news that Amber‘s ex husband Johnny Depp lost his libel case in the UK.

If you don’t know, over the summer, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor brought his case against News Group Newspapers, publishers of The Sun, and executive editor Dan Wootton after he was called a “wife beater” in a 2018 article regarding ex Amber Heard‘s allegations. He lost the case, and Amber was responsible for testifying during the summer trial.

“For those of us present for the London High Court trial, this decision and Judgment are not a surprise,” Elaine Charlson Bredehoft said in a statement (via People). “Very soon, we will be presenting even more voluminous evidence in the U.S. We are committed to obtaining Justice for Amber Heard in the U.S. Court and defending Ms. Heard‘s Right to Free Speech.”

Johnny filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit in the US that will take place on May 3, 2021.

Johnny Depp was in court this summer while suing a UK newspaper for libel after he was called a “wife beater” and now he has lost the trial.

The Oscar-nominated actor’s legal team is reacting to the loss with a statement and they say it would be “ridiculous” if Johnny doesn’t appeal the decision.

“This decision is as perverse as it is bewildering. Most troubling is the judge’s reliance on the testimony of Amber Heard, and corresponding disregard of the mountain of counter-evidence from police officers, medical practitioners, her own former assistant, other unchallenged witnesses and an array of documentary evidence which completely undermined the allegations, point by point. All of this was overlooked,” said Jenny Afia, representing Johnny‘s legal counsel.

The statement continued, “The judgment is so flawed that it would be ridiculous for Mr. Depp not to appeal this decision. In the meantime, we hope that in contrast to this case, the ongoing libel proceedings in America are equitable, with both parties providing full disclosure rather than one side strategically cherry picking what evidence can and cannot be relied upon.”

Amber Heard‘s U.S. lawyer released a statement saying, “For those of us present for the London High Court trial, this decision and judgment are not a surprise. Very soon, we will be presenting even more voluminous evidence in the U.S. We are committed to obtaining justice for Amber Heard in the U.S. court and defending Ms. Heard’s right to free speech.”

Johnny will soon be in court with Amber for the $50 million defamation lawsuit that he filed against her.

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