JK Rowling Defends Johnny Depp’s Casting in New 'Fantastic Beasts'

The founder of the Potter empire has published a fairly lengthy defence of Johnny Depp’s casting in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

“When Johnny Depp was cast as Grindelwald, I thought he’d be wonderful in the role,” she wrote in a letter published on her personal site. “However, around the time of filming his cameo in the first movie, stories had appeared in the press that deeply concerned me and everyone most closely involved in the franchise.”

Rowling is, of course, referring to the claims from Amber Heard that Depp physically abused her during their marriage. In May 2016, the actress attended the Superior Court of Los Angeles with a large bruise on her face—an injury her lawyers attributed to her estranged husband. “Amber has suffered through years of physical and psychological abuse at the hands of Johnny,” her lawyers told waiting media.

Since then Johnny Depp has seemed to be on the verge of a Weinstein-style public meltdown. Almost, but not quite. And when long-time Potter director David Yates announced Depp was to star in the sequel to 2016’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, many fans were understandably outraged.

“Harry Potter fans had legitimate questions and concerns about our choice to continue with Johnny Depp in the role,” Rowling wrote. “As David Yates … has already said, we naturally considered the possibility of recasting. I understand why some have been confused and angry about why that didn’t happen.”

Rowling then goes onto explain that the accusations against Depp have been made by people who “want to get on with their lives.” She admitted finding it frustrating that “the agreements that have been put in place” prevent her from talking openly about the case, but says their wishes 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.”

As far as defending Depp’s behaviour or essential character, this is about as far as she gets. In many ways Rowling’s note can simply be read as “nothing has been proven, and the claims are from people who won’t talk.” So in this way it’s not really a defence of Johnny Depp, so much as a defence of the director’s casting decision.

“Conscience isn’t governable by committee,” she writes at the end. “Within the fictional world and outside it, we all have to do what we believe to be the right thing.”