Despite exit, Johnny Depp to receive full salary for 'Fantastic Beasts 3'

Hollywood star Johnny Depp, who was asked to resign from his role in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, will reportedly earn his full salary of $10 million for having shot just one scene in the latest film of the saga.

Last week, Depp revealed that he has been forced to exit the franchise after he lost his case against The Sun that published an article in 2018 alleging he was a "wife-beater". Sources said Warner Bros. will have to pay full salary to Depp as per his contract, according to Hollywood Reporter. 

Last week, the Hollywood A-lister announced that he has been asked to resign from the famous franchise, Fantastic Beasts as Gellert Grindlewald. That same day, the studio announced that Fantastic Beasts 3 would be delayed, as a result, reported Digital Spy.

Following a weekend of not knowing what date the Wizarding World's third installment would be moved to, the official word’s come in that the movie will now drop in summer 2022. Instead of releasing on its original date in November 2021, the studio has announced that the film will now hit cinemas on July 15, 2022. 

Depp on Friday was forced out of the Fantastic Beasts movie franchise days after losing a libel case in Britain against a tabloid that branded him a “wife-beater.”

The A-list actor, writing on Instagram, said that Warner Bros movie studio had asked him to leave his role as villain Gellert Grindelwald. "I have respected and agreed to that request," he said.

Warner Bros said in a statement that Depp “will depart the Fantastic Beasts franchise,” and that his role would be recast.

Depp recently resumed production on the third film in the spinoff from Harry Potter author JK Rowling. Warner Bros said on Friday its release date had been pushed back to summer 2022 from November 2021.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.