Johnny Depp reacts to losing Fantastic Beasts role, says "There’s far too many of me to kill"

Johnny Depp was dropped out of Fantastic Beasts franchise

Hollywood actor Johnny Depp lost his role in the popular franchise, Fantastic Beasts, amid his high-profile trial with Amber Heard. Warner Bros abruptly asked Depp to step down from his role of Gellert Grindelwald after two films in the franchise.

However, Depp has recently reflected on losing the role in an interview with The Telegraph. The actor said, “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.”

He recalled, “It literally stopped in a millisecond, while I was doing the movie. They said, ‘We’d like you to resign.’ But what was really in my head was they wanted me to retire.”

The studio’s decision came just days after the 62-year-old lost his libel lawsuit against the American media outlet, The Sun, in November 2020.

The case revolved around an article that referred to him as a “wife-beater” in connection with his marriage to ex-wife Amber Heard, a claim Depp denied, but which the judge found to be “substantially true.” However, Depp later won the defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard in 2022.

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Depp was replaced by Mads Mikkelsen as Gellert Grindelwald in 2022’s Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. The actor previously issued a statement saying he had “respected and agreed” to Warner Bros.’ request to resign from the role while also thanking his fans for standing by him.

He wrote on his Instagram, “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.