Johnny Depp fans petition Warner Bros to give back actor 'Fantastic Beasts 3' role, threaten to boycott film
Fans of Johnny Depp are doing everything they can to bring back the actor to the ‘Fantastic Beasts 3’ franchise. Thousands have now signed a petition after the 57-year-old was asked to leave his role as dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald in the upcoming movie after he lost his libel case against The Sun newspaper and executive editor Dan Wootton on November 2. The message on the petition read, “Johnny Depp was asked by Warner Bros to resign and leave his role of Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts 3 movie. This happened because of the verdict of his case with "The Sun" tabloid that was completely unfair. We want him back! Warner Bros should listen to the public or we will boycott the movie!!!”
The petition comes days after Depp posted a statement on his Instagram account stating, “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. Finally, I wish to say this. The surreal judgment of the court in the UK 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.” Warner Bros also confirmed that he has quit as the studio 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,” their statement read.
The Hollywood actor lost his high-stakes libel action in the London courts against the Sun after the newspaper described him as a “wife beater”. A lot of his fans and followers also came out in his support and rallied against Warner Bros once they asked him to step down and at the time #BoycottFantasticBeasts trended on Twitter. More recently, a report has stated that though Depp is longer the part of ‘Fantastic Beasts 3’, he will still receive his full eight-figure payment under something called a ‘pay-or-play contract’, which makes it necessary for the studio to pay him the full amount whether or not the movie is made, or even if he is replaced with another actor.
Fans signed the petition saying: "I've seen the first 2 Fantastic Beasts and will not watch the third because Warner Brothers doesn't care that an innocent man has been falsely accused of a crime and has the evidence to prove his innocence." While another stated: "He doesn't deserve to lose his career over his private life." Another fan brought in the actor's ex-wife Amber Heard and said, "He has not been proven guilty of anything, the whole things is ridiculous. Depp himself has said the relationship was toxic and the fact that Heard has not been fired from roles on the same grounds, is shocking!". Another said, " Men are victims too. If you choose to remove one party you should also remove the other. Amber is not innocent."
At the time of writing this article,152,892 have signed and the goal is 200,000.