By now we should all be used to the news of movies being delayed. Originally set to release on November 12th 2021. Fantastic Beasts 3 has been pushed back nearly 8 months to July 15th 2022. This new release date brings the movie in line with other Harry Potter moves. Which most often would release as a summer blockbuster.

“This has all been for you, Credence,” Grindelwald notes in this crucial sequence.
(photo credit: Warner Bros.)

However, the delay of Fantastic Beasts is not the result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Though the movie had been pushed back before because of it. Instead this setback comes as a result of star Johnny Depp being let go from the film’s production.

For those not in the know. Which is likely very few at this point. Actor Johnny Depp was let go from Fantastic Beasts 3 less then a day after losing his defamation libel case against the British newspaper ‘The Sun’.

Depp being dropped means the studio will now need time to search for a new lead actor. As well as possibly needing to perform some re-writes. It was reported that in the movie Depp, Jude Law, and Eddie Redmayne would all be sharing equal screen time. Making Depp a pivotal character that could not simply be worked around without suffering some kind of delay.

Johnny Depp as pivotal character Grindlewald in Fantastic Beasts 2

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Warner wanted to allow due justice to run it’s course before making a decision about removing Depp from the film.

Deep Still Gets Paid

It has also been reported by the Hollywood Reporter that Warner Bros will still pay Depp his full salary for the movie. Depp was apparently the highest paid of the stars with an eight figure salary. Despite the fact that at this point Johnny has only shot one scene. This is likely due the contracts that were written and signed.