"I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request."

Johnny Depp will no longer be appearing in the Fantastic Beasts movies after being asked to resign from series. The actor lost his high-profile libel case against The Sun earlier this week, over the newspaper's reporting of his violence towards his ex-wife Amber Heard. "In light of recent events, I would like to make the following short statement,” Depp wrote in an Instagram post. "Firstly, I’d like to thank everybody who has gifted me with their support and loyalty. I have been humbled and moved by your many messages of love and concern, particularly over the last few days." "I wish to let you know that I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request." "Finally, I wish to say this. The surreal judgement of the court in the U.K. will not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal. My resolve remains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false. My life and career will not be defined by this moment in time." https://www.instagram.com/p/CHQXHimJvAC/ Warner Bros has confirmed that the role will be recast. "Johnny Depp will depart the Fantastic Beasts franchise," the studio said in a statement. "We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date. Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in production, and the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be recast. The film will debut in theatres worldwide in the summer of 2022." Depp first first played Gellert Grindelwald in 2016 in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and reprised the role for the sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.