Jude Law has reacted to the firing of co-star Johnny Depp from the upcoming Fantastic Beasts 3. The Harry Potter spin-off is set to be a five-film franchise, all of which take place decades prior to the events marking the return of the evil Lord Voldemort in the original films.
The first two films in the new franchise have received mostly positive reviews from critics and fans, but the next installment has been through numerous significant challenges to date. For starters, like many other productions at the present time, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused no shortage of headaches. Production on Fantastic Beasts 3 has been subject to the sort of delays that can be expected during these uncertain times, with the release date having been changed to a full year later than initially expected. Then came author J.K. Rowling’s detrimental anti-trans comments, which have completely altered the way many people view the Harry Potter creator. And as if all this wasn’t bad enough, the franchise has now lost its Grindelwald, as Johnny Depp has been asked to step down from the role as the evil wizard after losing a court case over media claims that the 57-year-old is a “wife-beater.”
There’s no question that with everything that’s happened to Fantastic Beasts 3 so far, many questions regarding the film’s chances for success exist. But as the controversy around Depp’s departure continues to be a talking point for many, his co-star Jude Law seems to be taking it all in stride. While speaking to ET about Depp’s removal from the upcoming film, Law made no effort to hide that he was hired to do a job and that all specifics relating to that job were up to the studio. In other words, he’s neither for nor against the firing:
“It’s an enormous film, and there are many, many layers to it. It’s probably one of the biggest productions I’ve ever worked on. And in a situation like this, you defer to the studio. That’s all you can do. Because you have to turn up and play your part.”
Law plays a very young version of Albus Dumbledore in the franchise, and despite the fact that the character is at odds with Grindelwald, the two are widely known to have been “closer than brothers.” Fans of the series know that this has been a somewhat subdued method on the part of Warner Bros. for dealing with what Rowling has previously revealed to be a passionate love affair. Seeing just how the relationship between the two wizards unfolds is a source of great intrigue for many, with Fantastic Beasts 3 likely promising to further explore this issue. Without Depp in the role of Grindelwald, however, Law and fans will have to get adjusted to a new Grindelwald – the likes of which Law doesn’t seem to be bothered by.
Some fans may feel a slight sting that Depp’s Fantastic Beasts 3 co-star failed to speak up and insist that he be permitted to stay with the franchise. But the truth of the matter is that Depp is gone, and Warner Bros. saw fit for that to be how things worked out. Law speaking out on the matter would have only served to entangle him in a messy issue that no celebrity wants connected to their own public profile.
Key Release Dates
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Release Date:2022-04-15
