In the wake of Johnny Depp’s sudden dismissal from the Fantastic Beasts movie franchise, co-star Jude Law has shared his belief that the actor’s departure was “unusual”.
Related: Johnny Depp Resigns From Harry Potter Franchise At Request Of Warner Bros.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight on the departure of his co-star, Law described the situation as one in which it was best to let the studio handle the issue, telling the entertainment news outlet that “”It’s an enormous film, and there are many, many layers to it.”
“It’s probably one of the biggest productions I’ve ever worked on,” said Law. “And in a situation like this, you defer to the studio. That’s all you can do. Because you have to turn up and play your part.”
Law, who plays Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter prequel series, also offered his opinion that Depp’s removal “was unusual for me because, in fact, on this particular role, Johnny had actually only done a day’s filming, I think, on his own.”
“In a franchise like this, it’s the studio and the company that make the big decisions,” reinforced the actor. “And you have to go along with those, because we’re just a member of the team.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Depp was asked to resign from his role as Gellert Grindelwald in the magical film franchise due to the actors libel case against The Sun, which a judge recently concluded by ruling in favor of the UK tabloid and their assertion that Depp is a ‘wife-beater’, as it was creating “a PR headache for the studio.”
However, despite his resignation, it has been confirmed that Warner Bros. will still be required to pay Depp his full salary “whether or not the film is made and even if it is recast.”
The third film in the Fantastic Beasts series is set to debut in Summer of 2022, with Deadline reporting that Death Stranding star Mads Mikkelsen is in talks to play the villainous Wizard in Depp’s stead.