Johnny Depp steps down from “Fantastic Beasts” films after being asked to do so by Warner Bros. National

Johnny Depp steps out Fantastic beasts Film franchise at Warner Bros.

Depp will no longer portray the dark magician Gellert Grindelwald in the films, as he has confirmed on his Instagram account.

“I want you to know that I was asked by Warner Bros. to resign from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts, and I have respected and agreed to that request,” he wrote on Friday.

“I would like to thank everyone who has shown me their support and loyalty. I am humble and moved by your many messages of love and concern, especially in the last few days.

“Finally, I would like to say that. The surreal judgment of the UK court is not going to change my battle for the truth and I confirm that I intend to appeal. My resolve remains strong and I want to prove that the allegations against me are false. My life and career will not be determined at this point. “

This sudden exit from the movies comes days after he lost his libel case against British tabloid The Sun over a 2018 article describing him as a “woman’s thug”.

In his ruling, Judge Andrew Nicol said that during a high profile trial in London that summer that contained glaring – and irreconcilable – reports by Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard, what they published was “in the Essentially true “is where each accused the other of abuse.

“I have found that the vast majority of alleged attacks by Mr Depp on Ms. Heard have been proven by civil law standards,” Nicol wrote in his decision.

Depp sued News Group Newspapers, publisher of The Sun, and the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Dan Wootton, over an April 2018 article accusing him of assaulting fellow actor Heard. Right now, the ruling is a heavy blow to Depp’s reputation and finances that could seriously damage his lucrative film career – his distance from it Fantastic beasts Franchise is the first blow against him.

The actor’s lawyers said they wanted to appeal the verdict.

A Depp attorney, 57, described the decision as “perverse as well as confusing”.

“The judgment is so flawed that it would be ridiculous for Mr. Depp not to appeal this decision,” said Jenny Afia in a statement.

Warner Bros., the studio behind the franchise, confirmed Depp will no longer star and said he will be re-cast before the third film in 2022, according to Variety.

“Johnny Depp will leave this Fantastic beasts Franchise. We thank Johnny for his work on the films so far, ”the studio said in a release statement.

At the center of the sun’s characterization of Depp as a “bully” were allegations that the actor attacked Heard 14 times in locations around the world, including a “three-day hostage situation” that Heard said took place in Australia, Depp filmed a Pirates of the Caribbean Movie.

Heard, 34, said the abuse was due to Depp’s drug and alcohol use and that he could transform under the influence of “the monster”. She alleged that between 2013 and 2016 he hit, hit and shoved her, pulled her hair and threw bottles at her at different times between 2013 and 2016.

Depp admitted using marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, and magic mushrooms in court and became addicted to opioid pain relievers. But he added, “I am certainly not a violent person, especially with women.”

– – With files from The Associated Press