LOS ANGELES: Harry Potter author JK Rowling on Thursday defended the decision to cast Johnny Depp in the next Fantastic Beasts movie after a backlash from fans unhappy about the circumstances of the actor’s recent divorce, especially related to domestic abuse. In a statement on her personal website, Rowling said filmmakers had considered recasting the role of villain Gellert Grindelwald for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, the sequel to 2016’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. But she said the circumstances of Depp’s 2016 divorce from actress Amber Heard were private and should be respected. “Harry Potter fans had legitimate questions and concerns about our choice to continue with Johnny Depp in the role,” Rowling wrote. Depp’s marriage to Heard ended in divorce amid bitter allegations of domestic abuse and blackmail.

Source: Pakistan Today December 08, 2017 06:45 UTC