Johnny Depp fans launch a petition demanding he be reinstated to Fantastic Beasts 3 | Daily Mail Online

Johnny Depp fans in their thousands have signed a petition demanding the actor be reinstated to the Fantastic Beasts franchise following his controversial sacking in November.

The Hollywood star was asked to step down from his role as Gellart Grindewald in JK Rowling’s fantasy series of blockbuster films after a libel suit filed against The Sun newspaper was summarily dismissed by the High Court.

Depp, 57, had originally taken legal action after the publication labelled him a ‘wife beater’ in reference to his acrimonious and ultimately short-lived two year marriage to the actress Amber Heard.

Not happy: Johnny Depp fans in their thousands have signed a petition demanding the actor be reinstated to the Fantastic Beasts franchise following his controversial sacking in November

The subsequent fallout has resulted in the actor parting ways with Warner Bros. and the Fantastic Beasts franchise – potentially the first in a series of expected blows to his film career – prompting die-hard fans to launch the online petition in his defence. 

Posted on Change.org, the petition – abruptly titled ‘Warner Bros, Bring Johnny Depp back as Gellert Grindelwald!!!’ – has so far amassed a total of 147,402 signatures, with more coming every second. 

A preamble posted by way of introduction to the growing list of aggrieved fans reads:  ‘Johnny Depp was asked by Warner Bros to resign and leave his role of Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts 3 movie. 

Finished: The Hollywood star was asked to step down from his role as Gellart Grindewald in JK Rowling’s fantasy series of blockbuster films after a libel suit filed against The Sun newspaper was summarily dismissed

Controversy: The term was used in reference to his acrimonious and ultimately short-lived two year marriage to the actress Amber Heard 

‘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!!!’

Depp confirmed his departure from the franchise in a statement to fans shortly after London’s Royal Court Of Justice deemed there was reasonable ground to claim he assaulted his former wife. 

Posting to Instagram, he wrote: ‘Firstly, I’d like to thank everyone who gifted me their support and loyalty.

Snowball effect: Posted on Change.org, the petition has so far amassed a total of 147,402 signatures, with more coming every second

Farewell: Depp confirmed his departure from the franchise in a statement to fans shortly after London’s Royal Court Of Justice deemed there was reasonable ground to claim he assaulted his former wife

‘Secondly, I wish to let you know that I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request.

‘Finally, I wish to say this. The surreal judgement of the court in the UK will not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal.

‘My resolve remains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false. My life and career will not be defined by this moment in time.’ 

Stepping in? It’s understood that Swedish actor Mads Mikkelsen has now been approached with a view to taking the role

While Depp will not feature in the third Fantastic Beasts instalment, it’s understood that he will still receive his full fee – reported to be within the region of $10million. 

The Hollywood Reporter claims that Depp had a special provision in his contract called pay-to-play, meaning that he would get his full salary no matter what happened to the movie, or if his role went to another actor. 

Swedish actor  Mads Mikkelsen has now been approached with a view to taking the role, Deadline reports. 

Depp – who filmed one scene for the new film before initiating legal proceedings against The Sun –  also has a separate defamation lawsuit against Heard, scheduled to take place in Virginia. 

This would have required the actor to be in court for three consecutive days in November, and would have also altered the Fantastic Beasts 3 shooting schedule.