The casting of Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald has proven to be controversial, in light of the actor’s history of domestic abuse. Various parties involved have already spoken out, and now Depp’s former wife Amber Heard has added her voice to the conversation, criticising studio Warner Bros for selectively quoting her in an attempt to justify Depp’s casting.
In a press release this week, the studio addressed Depp’s casting in the film and quoted a section of the joint statement released by the couple after their split. They said:
“We are of course aware of reports that surfaced around the end of Johnny Depp’s marriage, and take seriously the complexity of the issues involved. This matter has been jointly addressed by both parties, in a statement in which they said ‘there was never any intent of physical or emotional harm.’ Based on the circumstances and the information available to us, we, along with the filmmakers, continue to support the decision to proceed with Johnny Depp in the role of Grindelwald in this and future films.”
Overnight, Amber Heard hit back in an Instagram post, and while she didn’t mention Warner Bros by name, it was fairly clear that she was responding. “For the record, this was our FULL joint statement,” she wrote. “To pick and choose certain lines and quote them out of context, is just not right. Women, continue to stand up and stay strong.”
Yesterday, Fantastic Beasts scriptwriter JK Rowling addressed fans who may have been “confused and angry” about Depp’s inclusion in the film, saying that:
“… the agreements that have been put in place to protect the privacy of two people, both of whom have expressed a desire to get on with their lives, must be respected. Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies.”
