Petition to Bring Back Johnny Depp to Fantastic Beasts Moves Surpasses 150k, as Fans Still Want Amber Heard Fired

Fantastic Beasts 3 saw the departure of Johnny Depp, as Grindelwald, as a result of Warner Bros asking the star to retire himself from the role. Amid these controversial developments, some are reporting that Warner Bros may also reduce Amber Heard’s role in Aquaman 2 as well. However, fans are still petitioning for Depp to return to the film and fans are also demanding Heard be fired from Aquaman 2.

Despite all of the evidence against Heard, the UK court ruled in her favor. This was a terrible look for Depp, which puts a label on him as an allegedly abusive spouse (again, despite most of the evidence). Depp will likely now encounter more problems finding work. Fans believe that Heard should encounter the same.

The petition, which was seeking 150,000 signatures, surpassed that amount. Here’s what the person who created the petition said:

Johnny Depp was asked by Warner Bros to resign and leave his role of Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts 3 movie. This happened because of the verdict of his case with “The Sun” tabloid that was completely unfair. We want him back! Warner Bros should listen to the public or we will boycott the movie!!!

These types of petitions rarely work and it typically takes something much greater to get a studio to change their mind, such as James Gunn’s rehiring for Guardians of the Galaxy 3 or getting Warner Bros to release the Snyder Cut of Justice League.

Heard issued a statement, saying to EW:

“I’m super excited about the amount of fan love and the amount of fan appreciation that Aquaman has acquired and that it has garnered so much excitement for Aquaman and Mera that it means we’ll be coming back. I’m so excited to film that.”

She continued, “Paid rumors and paid campaigns on social media don’t dictate [casting decisions] because they have no basis in reality. Only the fans actually made Aquaman and Aquaman 2 happen. I’m excited to get started next year.”

Warner Bros announced that they will be recasting Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts film series without any announcement about Heard’s participation in Aquaman 2. At the moment, Heard will reprise her part as Mera in Aquaman 2, but according to insider Grace Randolph, the creator of the Beyond The Trailer channel on YouTube, Warner Bros is exploring ways that they can reduce her role.

#JohnnyDepp FIRED #FantasticBeasts3

FULL BREAKDOWN
+ #AmberHeard will likely have role reduced #Aquaman2

ADDITIONAL INFO JUST IN FROM MY SOURCES:
AT&T approves, Depp had filmed several scenes which must be re-shot, offer is already out to new actorhttps://t.co/U90WSfsN7x

— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) November 6, 2020

Warner Bros released a statement, saying:

“Johnny Depp will depart the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ franchise. 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 theaters worldwide in the summer of 2022.”

J.K. Rowling, creator of Harry Potter, released her own public statement that said:

“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.”

The Wizarding World has been under a lot of fire the past year or so, with Rowling under fire due to a series of transphobic comments that have turned fans against her. As well, Fantastic Beasts 3 has been severely delayed by COVID-19, star Ezra Miller was caught on camera choking a fan, and now Depp has had to step down.

However, fans have taken Depp’s side after also being dumped from Pirates of the Caribbean and now departing Fantastic Beasts. Both Depp and Heard have been simultaneously viewed as abusers and victims, depending on which actor fans have been rooting for.

Amber Heard is still involved in Aquaman 2, which has equally angered a lot of fans, as they believe Warner Bros isn’t equally handing out punishment. The internet is demanding that she also resign.

I don’t understand why Warner bros fired Johnny Depp but not Amber Heard. They both have evidence of being abused by each other, and women who are abusive are almost never held to the same standard as men who are abusive. fire both or fire neither.

— Katie (@kkayj3) November 7, 2020

@DCComics we’re boycotting #Aquaman2 if you don’t fire Amber Heard#JusticeForJohnnyDepp

— ō (@ayoootomii) November 7, 2020

Its a double standard.

This is why men don’t come forward about domestic abuse or rape.

She even said it. No one is going to believe that a 115 pound woman abused a grown man. She said they would laugh at him. This whole situation is disgusting. Amber Heard should be fired.

— Anthony Taylor-Bouis (@AnthonySoCal) November 7, 2020

#Aquaman2 needs to fire Amber Heard. She is the abuser. #AmberHeardIsAnAbuser #JusticeForJohnnyDepp

— Lindsay Love (@Love798) November 7, 2020

@wbpictures not happy! you fired one of the best actors ever. But your going to let Amber Heard stay and do her acting yet she’s just as guilty maybe more than him, how is that fair?! If your going to fire him then fire her!

— Kira Maynard (@midgetgem08xxx) November 7, 2020

@wbpictures hope you will fire @realamberheard to.. if not Then dont waste your money on Aquaman 2 no one wanna see it with her in it #AmberHeardIsAnAbuser #AmberHeardOut #JusticeForJohnnyDepp

— Peter Kobberholm (@308Pk) November 7, 2020

That’s not why people are upset. He had recordings, evidence that Amber Heard abused him, and WB decided to fire him because a UK judge with ties to Amber decided to side with the paper he was suing for libel that said he beat her with no evidence but AH faulty Testimony.

— Lady Giv (@givdesigns) November 7, 2020