Depp withdraws from Fantastic Beasts series, release postponed to 2022

Johnny Depp issued a statement on Instagram today, saying that he will withdraw from the filming of the "Fantastic Beasts" series and will no longer play Grindelwald. According to public information from Depp, the reason for his resignation was due to Warner's request, and Depp said he respected Warner's opinion.

"I wanted to let you know that Warner Bros. has asked me to step down from the role of Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts, a request I have respected and agreed to."

"Finally, I want to say that the bizarre verdict of the British court does not change my resolve to tell the truth and I have decided to appeal. My determination remains strong and I will prove that the allegations against me are false. My life and career will not be defined by this moment."

As early as 2018, superstar Johnny Depp was reported by the British newspaper The Sun as a domestic violence case, but he has always denied it and even sued The Sun for defamation. Just a few days ago, on November 2, Johnny Depp lost the case against the British media for reporting domestic violence. The High Court of London published a 129-page judgment report online, which determined that Depp's domestic violence was largely true.

Warner Bros. later issued a statement confirming Depp's dismissal and noted that the role of Grindelwald would be recast in the third film, which is set to be released in 2022. The film's release date has also been postponed to summer 2022 (previously planned for November 2021).