Film

Johnny Depp Has Been Cast In ‘Fantastic Beasts’ And People Are Not Happy About It

Nope. No no no. NO.

by Matilda Dixon-Smith  2 November 2016
Johnny Depp

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Nope. No no no. NO. What are you crusty frozen nugget casting directors doing? Today the news has broken that Johnny Depp, alleged abuser of former partner Amber Heard, has been cast in the upcoming sequel to JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them.

It’s safe to say, the internet is not happy about it.

The buzz is that Depp will appear in the Fantastic Beasts sequel, and may even have a cameo in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts (which premieres on 17 November). This is still a decision the studio can reverse and perhaps public pressure will force them to, at the very least, reconsider their tone-deaf casting choice.

The issue here is one we’ve discussed many times before (come on, Hollywood, this is getting exhausting!). The Fantastic Beasts franchise is bound to be hugely successful, and to attract a wide range of young people (and nostalgic adults like you and me) to the cinemas to revisit Rowling’s Harry Potter universe — and to see the gorgeous Eddie Redmayne’s beautiful twitchy imp face fill the silver screen again. Hell, they’re casting the sequel and the first movie hasn’t even been released!

So casting Depp, a man attached to serious allegations of assault, in a bonafide money-spinner says to the world: this man’s behaviour towards women is less important than his cache as an A-list actor the studios can employ and promote.

Here’s a revolutionary idea: there are lots of men who are actors, maybe give roles and accolades and money to the ones who don’t abuse women?

Best cover your ears for this one, delicate Muggles, because the rumour mill is churning out even worse news: Depp will reportedly play the dark wizard Grindelwald, a childhood friend (and rumoured first love) of Albus Dumbledore.

The only good news about this is: Warner Bros. and their casting directors are about to find out what happens when you piss off the Harry Potter stans.