Johnny Deppisn’t mincing words when it comes to his sudden dismissal fromFantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. In a new interview with The Telegraph, the actor revealed what really went through his mind when Warner Bros. politely asked him to step away from theHarry Potterprequel franchise.
His internal response? “F*ck you. There’s far too many of me to kill. If you think you can hurt me more than I’ve already been hurt you’re gravely mistaken.”
Depp had only filmed one day onSecrets of Dumbledorebefore his departure, which came just 24 hours after he lost his 2020 libel case against The Sun, which referred to him as a “wife beater.” The UK court ultimately ruled the outlet’s characterization of Depp was “substantially true.”What followed was a formal thank-you and farewell from Warner Bros., who said at the time: “Johnny Depp will depart theFantastic Beastsfranchise. We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date.”
Depp, more composed in his public Instagram statement, wrote: “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.”
How Did Johnny Depp React to Being Fired From ‘Fantastic Beasts’?
Privately, though, he said he felt blindsided. “It literally stopped in a millisecond, like, while I was doing the movie,” Depp told The Telegraph. “They said we’d like you to resign. But what was really in my head was they wanted me to retire.”
He didn’t, of course. But he did get what he describes as “shunned, dumped, booted, deep-sixed, canceled—however you want to define it.”
In 2022, Depp’s reputation hit another global media maelstromwhen he faced off against ex-wifeAmber Heardin a highly publicized U.S. defamation trial. Heard had written aWashington Postop-ed in which she described herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” Depp sued. The jury sided mostly with him, ruling that Heard had defamed him — though they also found that Depp defamed Heard in part of his legal rebuttal.
Despite the years of tabloid headlines and what he calls “all the hit pieces, the bullshit,” Depp says he’s made peace with it. “Look, none of this was going be easy, but I didn’t care. I thought, ‘I’ll fight until the bitter fucking end.’ And if I end up pumping gas? That’s all right. I’ve done that before.”
Now, Depp is making his slow return to Hollywood, reuniting withBlowco-starPenélope Cruzin Lionsgate’s upcoming action comedyDay Drinker.Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
