Johnny Depp will receive his full payday of over US$10 million for the latest Fantastic Beasts film, despite only having filmed one scene before being booted from production.
Depp confirmed he would be resigning from his role as villain Gellert Grindelwald at the request of Warner Bros after he lost a libel case in Britain against a tabloid that called him a "wife-beater".
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Depp has only filmed one scene for the film since production began in September, but due to a 'pay or play' contract, he'll still be entitled to his entire salary. The fine print stipulates that Depp be paid the full amount promised to him even if his role is recast or the film is not made - a common clause for big celebrity movie contracts.
Depp's casting as Grindelwald caused controversy in 2017, by which point his former partner Amber Heard had already levelled accusations of spousal abuse at him.
JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter franchise and the Fantastic Beasts book that inspired the films, defended Depp's role at the time.
"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," Rowling's statement read.
In an Instagram post following the London High Court's ruling on Depp, the actor said he planned to appeal the decision, but "respected" Warner Bros call on removing him from the film.
Screenrant reports that Depp's role in Fantastic Beasts 3 be will be recast, but it's not yet clear whether the scene Depp filmed earlier this year will remain in the final cut.
