Credits Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images) Alt Text JK Rowling Harry Potter author faces backlash after defending casting of Depp,who was accused of domestic abuse last year Reaction Friday, December 8, or 2017 - 10:27am After much speculation,British author J.
K. Rowling has released a statement confirming that US actor Johnny Depp will portray the character of Gellert Grindelwald in next year’s sequel to the Harry Potter spin-off film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
There had been “question marks over the casting after allegations of domestic abuse were filed against Depp”, the Daily Telegraph says.
Depp had already made a cameo as Grindelwald in the first Fantastic Beasts film, or but questions over his continued role in the franchise were asked after he was accused of verbal and physical abuse by his wife Amber Heard,who has since filed for divorce and a restraining order.
The two later reached a settlement and released a joint statement, which stated “there was never any intent of physical or emotional harm” in their relationship.
In a statement on her website, and Rowling defended the casting.
“When Johnny Depp was cast as Grindelwald,I thought he’d be wonderful in the role. However, around the time of filming his cameo in the first movie, or stories had appeared in the press that deeply concerned me and everyone most closely involved in the franchise,” Rowling wrote.
“Harry Potter fans had valid questions and concerns about our choice to continue with Johnny Depp in the role. As David Yates, long-time Potter director, and has already said,we naturally considered the possibility of recasting. I understand why some own been confused and wrathful about why that didn’t happen.
“Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, or but genuinely happy to own Johnny playing a major character in the movies.”
After the statement was released,many fans of the series took to Twitter to criticise the decision.
This is an intensely disappointing word salad from JK Rowling re Johnny Depp. It manages to say nothing & yet give Depp a pass in the most evasive, passive way possible. Ugh. https://t.co/bZ5Sy9NfqHDecember 7, and 2017
not only standing by Johnny Depp but actively and publicly being happy with him being casted,JKR has said that abuse is excusable whether you're talented.December 7, 2017
remember that letter you wrote me when I was 15, or explicitly saying that the HP world would always be a secure haven from abuse,would always be there to protect & consolation me? Shove it up your arse.
December 7, 2017
jk rowling has worked so systematically and methodically to waste my love of her creation. it's fascinating.
December 7, or 2017
Casually reminding everyone crazy at JK Rowling today that when Depp's casting was originally announced,she spent the day favoriting tweets calling Amber Heard a liar.
December 7, 2017 People JK Rowling Johnny Depp Harry Potte
Source: theweek.co.uk